RPLC: USR

UNIFORM STATE RULES

ARTICLE I - GENERAL

GENERAL
1. PARTY NAME AND EMBLEM
  1. PARTY NAME
    1. STATE NAMEThe Republican Party organization in the State of New Mexico shall be known as The Republican Party of New Mexico.
    2. COUNTY NAMESThe Republican Party organization within each County of the State of New Mexico shall be known as The Republican Party of ___________ County with the appropriate County name inserted.
  2. PARTY EMBLEM:The Republican Party of New Mexico and the Republican Parties of each of the Counties of the State of New Mexico shall have as their emblem the flag of the United States of America.
  3. USE OF THE PARTY NAME AND EMBLEM
    1. Neither the name Republican nor the name Republican Partyshall be used by any person, group or convention, except in strict conformity with these Rules and the Election Code of New Mexico.
    2. Should any question arise as to whether a person, persons, or group filed under the name Republican or use of the copyrighted Republican emblem has been done contrary to these Rules or the Election Code of New Mexico, such questions shall be determined by the Republican State Central Committee or the appropriate County Central Committee.
2. PARTY MEMBERSHIP, PARTY GOVERNMENT, CONVENTION PARTICIPATION
  1. PARTY MEMBERSHIP/PARTICIPATION
    1. Party Membership:Any qualified voter In New Mexico whose properly registered Political Party affiliation is Republican shall be considered a member of the Republican Party of New Mexico and of the Republican Party of the County in which the voter is so registered and is eligible to participate in Republican Party affairs in accordance with these Rules.
    2. Participation:It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage and allow the broadest possible participation of all Republican voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open and accessible.
  2. PARTY GOVERNMENT AND CONVENTION PARTICIPATION
    1. Committees:Each member, Officer, or candidate for same, of:
      the State Central Committee,
      any County Contingent of the State Central Committee,
      any County Central Committee,
      or any Ward or Precinct Committee
      must be a qualified and properly registered Republican voter and living at the address of registration in the New Mexico County, Ward, or Precinct involved.
    2. Conventions:Each participant, Delegate, Officer, or candidate for same, to or of:
      any Republican State Convention,
      any Republican County Convention,
      any Republican Ward Caucus,
      or any Republican Precinct Caucus
      must be a qualified and properly registered Republican voter in the New Mexico County, Ward, or Precinct involved. Each delegate shall be elected for each separate convention. Unless elected, Ex Officio members of Central Committees shall not be delegates to conventions.
    3. Automatic Resignation by Registered Change of Party or Residence:A properly registered change of Political Party affiliation to anything other than Republican or a registered change of residence to one outside the New Mexico County, Ward or Precinct involved shall constitute automatic and immediate resignation from any Central, Ward, or Precinct Committee membership or office or candidacy for same and from any Convention delegacy or office or candidacy for same for which there is a residency requirement.
3. PARTY STRUCTURE - GOVERNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES
  1. GOVERNING BODIES
    1. The affairs of the Republican Party of New Mexico shall be governed by essentially representative governing bodies which shall be:
      at State level, a State Central Committee, and
      at County level, County Central Committees.
    2. Elective members of the State Central Committee Contingent from each County and elective membersof the County Central Committee for each County shall be elected by a Republican County Convention in each County.
  2. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AND BODIES
    1. Ward/Precinct Base:Each County shall adopt, in its Supplementary County Rules, either a Ward-based or a Precinct-based administrative organization.
    2. Ward-based County Ward and Precinct Officers:In a Ward-based County administrative organization, Ward Officers shall be elected by a Republican Ward Caucus for each Ward in the County, and Precinct Chairmen for the Precincts within a Ward shall be appointed by the elected Ward Chairman for that Ward.
    3. Precinct-based County Precinct Officers:In a Precinct-based County administrative organization, Precinct Officers shall be elected by a Republican Precinct Caucus for each Precinct in the County.
    4. Ward/Precinct Officers - Special Prohibition:No County shall have both elected or both appointed Ward and Precinct Officers.
    5. Ward Committee - Precinct Committee:Any elected group of Ward or Precinct Officers or appointed replacements and any others who may be additionally provided for in the Supplementary County Rules of a particular County shall be known as the Republican Ward or Precinct Committee for the Ward or Precinct involved with the duty of administratively carrying out the policies of the Republican State Central Committee and the Republican County Central Committee for the County within which the Ward or Precinct is located.
    6. Definitions as used in these Rules:Caucus is a meeting of republican voters registered in the same ward or precinct.
      Delegate is a individual elected to serve for one time only at a convention.
      Ex Officio is a qualified voting member by virtue of office or official position.
      Precinct(s) are the Precinct(s) as established by the Boards of County Commissioners in each County in accordance with the Election Code of New Mexico.
      Vacancy exists for any position unfilled.
      Ward is a group of contiguous precincts (e.g., legislative district, county commission district, school district, etc. following precinct boundaries) as defined in the County Supplementary Rules of each County.
4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST - RESTRICTIONS
  1. WHEN A PARTY OFFICER BECOMES A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICEIn the event the State Chairman, or any other State Officer of the Republican State Central Committee, shall file as a candidate for Public Office, and more than one Republican files as a candidate for that office, the State Officer shall immediately vacate the Party Office. In that event, the successor shall be selected in the manner for filling vacancies as in these Rules provided.
  2. EMPLOYEES OF THE PARTY BARRED FROM INFLUENCING NOMINATIONSNo person receiving remuneration from the State Central Committee or from any County Central Committee, shall do anything or be required to do anything for the benefit or to the detriment of any person seeking or about to seek nomination as a candidate on the Republican ticket for Public Office under the Primary Election Law of New Mexico or at a Republican Convention.
  3. PARTY OFFICERS -- ENDORSEMENTS PROHIBITEDParty officers shall not publicly endorse one Republican candidate over another Republican candidate.
  4. RECRUITMENT OF CANDIDATESNothing in Article 1-4-2 shall be construed to prohibit party officers/employees from recruiting Republican candidates to run for public offices
5. RULES
  1. PERSONS/MEN AND WOMENReferences to persons or positions in these Uniform State Rules and in all County Supplementary Rules shall be interpreted to refer to both women and men unless there is a specific declaration to the contrary, as in the case of accommodation of certain of the Rules of the National Republican Party.
  2. VACANCYA vacancy as used in these Rules exists for any position unfilled. The position shall be filled as pre-scribed in these Rules or in the Supplementary County Rules.
  3. UNIFORM STATE RULESThe Republican Party of New Mexico shall be organized and governed in accordance with these Uniform State Rules, and any proper amendments thereto, which shall apply uniformly to each County Party organization throughout the State.
    No Rule in these Uniform State Rules can be suspended at either the State or County level.
  4. SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTY RULESEach County shall have a set of Supplementary County Rules which shall provide for situations and cir-cumstances of unique concern to each County.
    No Rule in any proper and properly filed set of Supplementary County Rules can be suspended.

END OF ARTICLE I

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ARTICLE 2 - STATE

STATE
1. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE
  1. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - GOVERNING BODYThe Republican State Central Committee shall be the governing body of and shall have general supervision and control of the political affairs of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
  2. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - SPECIAL POWERS AND DUTIES
    1. Delegation of Authority to State Executive Committee:The State Central Committee shall have the power to delegate any part of its authority to a State Executive Committee, provided such delegation is not in conflict with any law.
    2. Power to Settle Factional Differences:The State Central Committee shall have the power to settle factional differences and to prevent damage to the Party welfare. The State Central Committee shall have the power to call together any County Committee for the purpose of rearranging such County Committee or its Officers or enlarging the membership thereof, and shall determine the method of rearranging or enlarging any such County Committee and shall have the power to rearrange or replace any Precinct or Ward Committee or its Officers, as hereinafter specifically provided in this Rule.
      If a County Chairman shall fail or refuse to call a meeting of a County Central Committee when such meeting is provided for by these Rules, or is duly ordered by the State Chairman under his or her authority as such Official, then and in that event the State Chairman shall, upon a majority vote of the State Executive Committee, decree a vacancy in the Office of such County Chairman and shall call a meeting of the County Central Committee for the purpose of electing a new County Chairman. Such meeting shall be called in accordance with these Rules by the State Chairman in lieu of the County Chairman, and the person elected at such meeting as Chairman of the County Central Committee shall automatically be the County Chairman of the Republican Party in said County.
      When the State Central Committee, in its discretion, finds that any Precinct Caucus, Ward Caucus, County Convention, or election, or any combination thereof was improperly held, or was not held, or where any dispute involving factional differences is presented to the State Central Committee, it shall have the power to select new Precinct Officers, Ward Officers, County Officers, members of the County Central Committee and/or members of the State Central Committee from that County.
  3. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP APPORTIONMENT
    1. Apportionment:The State Central Committee shall consist of a membership as follows:
      1. One elected member from each County in the State of New Mexico,
      2. An additional number of elected members from each County consisting of one member for each 1,000 votes or remaining major fraction thereof, cast in the County for the Republican nominee for Governor at the last preceding Gubernatorial Election for which official Election Canvass records are available,
      3. The County Chairman and two other officers as determined by each County Central Committee in accordance with the County Supplementary Rules,
      4. The National Committeeman and the National Committeewoman,
      5. Three members to be selected by the Young Republicans State organization,
      6. Three members to be selected by the College Republicans State Organization.
      7. Three members to be selected by the New Mexico Federation of Republican Women,
      8. Any Republican from New Mexico who is an incumbent Member of the Cabinet of the President of the United States, any incumbent Republican member of the United States Senate, any incumbent Republican Member of the United States House of Representatives, any incumbent Republican Governor of New Mexico, and any incumbent Republican statewide-elected office holders except judiciary, and
      9. All former State Chairmen, all former National Committeemen, and all former National Committeewomen.
      10. State OfficersEach Officer of the State Central Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the State Central Committee with full voting rights.
      11. A person shall become a member of the State Central Committee by only one of the afore mentioned methods and shall have only one vote.
      12. Affiliate organizationsshall be and remain in good standing with their national organizations.
    2. Fractional Votes:Fractional votes or fractional memberships in the State Central Committee shall not be recognized.
    3. County Contingent:
      1. The County Contingent of members of the State Central Committeefrom a County shall consist of:
        
        The elected members from the County or any appointed replacements, and
        
        The County Chairman and two other officers as determined by each County Central Committee in accordance with the County Supplementary Rules.
      2. The elected members of the State Central Committee County Contingent from a County shall be elected at the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention held in the County and they shall hold Office as provided in ARTICLE 3., Rule 3-3-1., of these Uniform State Rules.
    4. Proxies:Proxies for the State Central Committee meetings are provided for in ARTICLE 3., Rule 3-3-1., of these Uniform State Rules.
  4. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - STATE OFFICERS
    1. Organizational Meeting and Election of State Officers:At a meeting of the State Central Committee called between November 15 and January 15 following the biennial general election, the State Central Committee shall elect a:
      Chairman,
      First Vice-Chairman,
      Second Vice-Chairman,
      State Vice-Chairman from Congressional District I,
      State Vice-Chairman from Congressional District II,
      State Vice-Chairman from Congressional District III,
      Secretary, and
      Treasurer.
      1. State Vice-Chairmen from the Congressional Districts - Nomination and Selection - Caucuses:At the biennial organizational meeting of the State Central Committee described above in this Sub-Rule 2-1-4.A., the members of the State Central Committee from each Congressional District shall caucus and nominate a single candidate for the office of State Vice-Chairman from each of their respective Districts.
        Voting at each District Caucus shall be by secret ballot, except that a voice vote may be taken if there is only one (1) candidate.
      2. State Vice-Chairmen from the Congressional Districts - At-Large Confirmation and Election:Each nominee for State Vice-Chairman from each Congressional District shall be confirmed or rejected by a majority vote of the State Central Committee; such confirmation shall constitute election by the State Central Committee At-Large.
    2. Terms of Office:The term of each elected Officer of the State Central Committee shall begin the first day following his or her election, and he or she shall serve for two years or until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed.
    3. Vacancies:
      1. General:Any vacancy occurring in the Office of any State Central Committee Officer shall be filled by the State Executive Committee and confirmed at the next meeting of the State Central Committee, provided that, in case of the vacancy of the Chairmanship of the State Central Committee, a meeting of that Committee shall be called by the First Vice-Chairman or, in his or her absence, the Second Vice Chairman for a time not later than thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs, for the purpose of selecting a permanent State Chairman. In the event the First Vice-Chairman or, in his or her absence, the Second Vice Chairman fails or refuses to call such a meeting, a meeting for the same purpose may be called, with proper notice, by any ten (10) members of the State Central Committee.
      2. Treasurer:In the case of a vacancy occurring in the Office of Treasurer of the State Central Committee, the Office shall be temporarily filled by an available Officer of the State Central Committee designated by the State Chairman, who shall serve until a replacement shall have been designated by the State Executive Committee. The designation by the State Chairman of a Temporary Treasurer shall be in writing with copies sent immediately to all members of the State Executive Committee.
      3. At no time shall the Offices or duties of Chairman and Treasurer of the State Central Committee reside in the same person.
    4. Removal of State Central Committee Officer:Any Officer of the State Central Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the State Central Committee present in person at a meeting properly called for the purpose and attended by at least 51% of the entire membership of the Committee. In such voting proxies shall not be recognized.
    5. State Officers - Ex-Officio Memberships:Each Officer of the State Central Committee shall be an ex-officio member of both the State Central Committee and the State Executive Committee with full voting rights
    6. State Chairman - Powers and Duties:The Chairman of the State Central Committee shall automatically be the State Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico with the following powers and duties:
      1. General Duties:The State Chairman shall perform all the duties imposed upon him or her under these Rules, such other duties as may be imposed upon him or her by the State Central Committee, all the duties usually incumbent upon him or her in connection with the Office of State Chairman, and any duties provided by law.
      2. Duty to Call State Central Committee Meetings:The State Chairman shall have the power to call, with proper notice, meetings of the State Central Committee at such times as he or she may deem proper and shall have the duty to call such meetings when required by these Rules.
      3. Duty to Preside:It shall be the duty of the State Chairman to preside at meetings of the State Central Committee.
      4. Duty to Specify Week for Holding Elections:The State Chairman shall have the duty to specify the week for the holding of meetings to elect any Party Officers, including Delegates.
      5. Duty to Appoint Committees:The State Chairman shall have the duty to appoint such Committees as may be required by these Rules.
      6. Power to Appoint:The State Chairman shall have the power to appoint such other assistants, coordinators or committees as he or she may deem proper.
      7. Failure to Call a Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention:In case of failure or refusal of a County Chairman or any County Party organization in any County to call and/or hold a proper Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention for the election of a State Central Committee County Contingent and/or a County Central Committee, the State Chairman shall call and supervise the conduct of such a Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention.
      8. Power to Employ:The State Chairman and the State Executive Committee shall have the power to employ an Executive Director and other employees to perform such duties as the State Chairman and the State Executive Committee shall prescribe.
      9. Annual Budget:The chairman with the assistance of the treasurer and the executive director shall submit a budget by November 30 of each year for the successive year, for approval by the elected officers, national committeeman and committeewoman and made available to the State Central Committee.
      10. Expenditure of Funds Authorization:The Executive Director shall be limited to authorizing expenditures contained in the party's budget. Items not in the budget shall be approved by the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, the First Vice-Chairman.
      11. Appointment - Board of Directors McMillan Foundation:The State Chairman shall appoint the Board of Directors to the McMillan New Mexico Heritage Foundation Inc. in accordance with the Bylaws of that organization.
    7. State First Vice-Chairman - Powers and Duties:The State First Vice-Chairman shall exercise the powers and perform all the duties of the State Chairman in his or her absence and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the State Chairman.
    8. State Second Vice-Chairman - Powers and Duties:The State Second Vice-Chairman shall exercise the powers and perform all the duties of the State Chairman in the absence of both the State Chairman and the State First Vice-Chairman and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the State Chairman.
    9. State Vice-Chairman for the Congressional Districts - Powers and Duties:The State Vice-Chairmen for the Congressional Districts shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the State Chairman.
    10. State Secretary - Duties:The Secretary of the State Central Committee shall carefully preserve all of the minutes of the meetings of the State Central Committee and those of the State Executive Committee, and shall perform all duties that may be required by such Committees.
    11. State Treasurer - Duties:The Treasurer of the State Central Committee shall perform such duties as may be required by the Chairman of the State Central Committee and by law.
    12. Chairman - Salary:The State Chairman may be paid an annual salary in addition to the expenses (travel, food, lodging, communications, etc.) associated with carrying out the duties of this office. A majority vote of the group comprising all the other elected state officers plus the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman may create a Compensation Committee for the purpose of recommending salary and expense accounts for the State Chairman. The State Central Committee will approve or modify any such recommendations.
  5. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - MEETINGS - NOTICES
    1. Notices of State Central Committee Meetings:A written notice of any State Central Committee meeting shall be given to each member of the State Central Committee by any proper Officer or group of members not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.
    2. Notice of Meetings Exception:Vacancies on the General Election Ballot shall be filled according to law. Notice of the meeting by telephone or other electronic means shall be permitted to fill the vacancies. A vacancy filled by the appropriate county or district State Central Committee Members shall be deemed the action of the State Central Committee.
    3. Meetings Called by Twenty-five or More Members:Any twenty-five (25) or more members of the State Central Committee, acting in unison, shall have the power to call meetings of the State Central Committee by giving proper notice.
    4. Quorum:A State Central Committee meeting quorum shall consist of those State Central Committee members present in person or by proper proxy at the time, date, and public place stated in the meeting call.
  6. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
    1. Membership:The State Executive Committee shall consist of a membership as follows:
      1. the officers of the State Central Committee,
      2. the chairman and the co-chairmen of the State Finance Committee,
      3. the chairman of the Advisory State Rules Committee,
      4. the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, and
      5. not fewer than fifteen (15) nor more than thirty (30) members appointed by, and who shall serve at the pleasure of, the State Chairman.
    2. Chairman:The State Chairman shall be the Chairman of the State Executive Committee.
    3. Secretary:The State Secretary shall be the Secretary of the State Executive Committee.
    4. Record of Meetings and Action:The State Executive Committee shall keep a record of all its proceedings and any action taken by the State Executive Committee which shall be effective from the date of the action taken and which shall be binding until such time as the State Central Committee shall otherwise order.
    5. Annual Audit:The State Executive Committee shall obtain an annual audit of all accounts and records of the Republican Party of New Mexico within sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal year, and shall submit a financial statement at least annually to the members of the State Central Committee.
    6. Fiscal Year:Each fiscal year shall be determined by the State Executive Committee.
  7. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - STATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
    1. State Finance Committee `
      1. Committee Membership:The State Chairman shall appoint a State Finance Committee, which Committee shall perform all duties that may be required by the State Chairman. The Committee shall have a Chairman and Co-Chairmen appointed from its membership by the State Chairman.
      2. Treasurer Member Ex Officio:The Treasurer of the State Central Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the State Finance Committee.
      3. Committee Chairman - Ex-Officio Membership:The Chairman and Co-Chairmen of the State Finance Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the State Executive Committee with full voting rights.
      4. Committee Members - Removal:Removal of any appointive member of the State Finance Committee shall be made by the State Chairman and confirmed by the State Executive Committee.
  8. STATE - CENTRAL COMMITTEE - ADVISORY STATE RULES COMMITTEE
    1. There shall be a standing Advisory State Rules Committee.
      1. Committee Membership:The Advisory State Rules Committee shall consist of six members from each United States Representative District plus six additional members from the State-at-large for a total membership of twenty-four.
      2. Staggered Terms of Office:The terms of office of the members of the Advisory State Rules Committee shall be arranged in groups of three pairs of annually-staggered three-year terms for each United States Representative District and for the State-at-large category. Each term shall begin on the first day of December and end on the last day of November three years thereafter. Initial appointments may be made for partial terms where needed to accomplish the staggered-term schedule.
      3. Committee Members - Vacancy:An Advisory State Rules Committee membership vacancy occurring during a term of office shall be filled for the remainder of the term only.
      4. Committee Members - Appointment:Members of the Advisory State Rules Committee shall be appointed by the State Chairman with confirmation by the State Central Committee.
      5. Committee Members - In the Case of Reapportionment:In the case of reapportionment of a United States Representative District creating a vacancy in the membership of the Advisory State Rules Committee from that District, such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the State Chairman for the remainder of the vacant term involved. Should an incumbent member of the Advisory State Rules Committee be redistricted into a District which has no vacancy, such member shall serve as a temporary supernumerary State-at-large member for the length of the remainder of the term for which he or she was appointed when in his or her former District.
      6. Committee Members - Removal:Removal of a member of the Advisory State Rules Committee shall be done only for just cause by a two-thirds vote of the members of the State Central Committee present in person at a meeting properly called for the purpose and attended by at least 51% of the entire membership of the State Central Committee. In such voting proxies shall not be recognized.
      7. Committee Chairman:The Advisory State Rules Committee shall have a Chairman appointed from its membership by the State Chairman.
      8. Committee Chairman - Ex-Officio Membership:The Chairman of the Advisory State Rules Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the State Executive Committee with full voting rights.
    2. Duties:The Advisory State Rules Committee shall:
      1. For Conformity with the Law:Regularly review the existing Uniform State Rules for conformity or conflict with the law.
      2. For Supplementary County Rules:Regularly review the Supplementary County Rules, filed from the various Counties, for conformity with these Uniform State Rules and with the law.
      3. For Format and Style:Review and recommend format and style for any proposed amendment to these Uniform State Rules. In no case shall such a review be considered a requirement for the passage of any such amendment.
    3. Merits of Substance of a Proposed Amendment - Judgment of:It shall not be a duty of the Advisory State Rules Committee to pass judgment of any kind on the merits of the substance of any proposed amendment to these Uniform State Rules.
2. STATE - CONVENTIONS
  1. STATE - CONVENTIONS - REGULARRegular Republican State Conventions shall be held as follows:
    1. Quadrennial Republican State Convention:In the years in which the Presidential Elections occur, and in accordance with Republican Party National Rules, a Quadrennial Republican State Convention shall be held to:
      1. Choose Presidential Electors,
      2. Select Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention,
      3. Elect a Republican National Committeeman and a Republican National Committeewoman, and
      4. Act on any other proper business that may come before the Convention.
    2. Pre-Primary Republican State Convention:A Pre-Primary Republican State Convention shall be held in accordance with State Law. In the year of the New Mexico Gubernatorial Election, adoption of a Quadrennial Republican State Platform shall be an agenda item for the Pre-Primary Republican State Convention.
  2. STATE - CONVENTIONS - SPECIALSpecial Republican State or District Conventions may be called for special purposes and in particular, where the Primary Election Law does not apply, for the purpose of nominating candidates for Public Office and for the nominating of a Candidate for United States Representative to Congress where a vacancy has occurred in that Office.
  3. STATE - CONVENTIONS - OFFICER MEETING HELD TO CALL
    1. At a meeting held at least three (3) months prior to the holding of any Republican State Convention, a meeting of the elected officers of the State Central Committee shall be held to:
      1. Call for and fixthe purpose, time, date, and public place for the holding of the State Convention.
      2. Determine the number of Delegates to the State Convention from each County.
      3. Provide for the nomination of Temporary Officers of the State Convention.
      4. Provide for the recommendationof Special Rules for governing the conduct of and procedures for the State Convention.
      5. Call for and fixthe time, date, and public place for the holding of a meeting of the State Central Committee to immediately precede the State Convention to:
        
        consider any contests of Delegations to the State Convention,
        
        determine the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the State Convention,
        
        select the Temporary Officers of the State Convention,
        
        recommend any Special Rules for the State Convention, and
        
        consider
      6. Consider any other proper business.
    2. A written report of all action takenat the above meeting, and a packet of procedures to follow, shall be given to each County Chairman in sufficient time to plan for the corresponding County Convention.
  4. STATE - CONVENTIONS - NOTICES
    1. Mailed Notice:
      1. After a meeting of the elected officersof the State Central Committee held to call a Republican State Convention, the Secretary of the State Central Committee shall mail a notice of the Call not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the Convention to each member of the State Central Committee. The notice shall designate the general purpose, time, date, and public place of the Convention, the number of Delegates allocated to each County and the time limit for the filing of contests with the Secretary of the State Central Committee.
      2. Included with the Callfor any State Convention shall be a Call for the required State Central Committee Meeting to immediately precede the Convention.
  5. STATE - CONVENTIONS - MEMBERSHIP
    1. Membership Roll of Delegates:The membership Roll of Delegates to a Republican State Convention shall consist of all of the Delegates, properly elected by the County Conventions, properly held for the purpose in each County, as finally determined by the State Convention, in accordance with these Rules.
    2. Basis for Delegate Apportionment:The number of Delegates from each County at a State Convention shall be one Delegate for each four hundred votes, or remaining major fraction thereof, cast in the County for the Republican Nominee for Governor at the last preceding Gubernatorial Election for which official Election Canvass records are available.
    3. Proxies - Proxy Certificates:Any properly elected Delegate to a Republican State Convention may appoint any qualified registered Republican voter of his or her County as his or her proxy to act and vote in his or her stead at the State Convention, unless otherwise prohibited in these Rules. Each proxy certificate must be in writing and signed by the Delegate giving the proxy, and shall name the person to be the proxy, shall name the Convention for which given, and shall state the date it was signed. Each such proxy certificate must be registered and accepted by the Convention before said proxy may be exercised at the Convention.
    4. Proxy Limit:No person shall be permitted to hold and/or exercise more than five (5) proxies of Delegates to a Republican State Convention.
    5. Proxy Prohibition - Alternate Delegates:When proxies are prohibited at a Republican State Convention by Rules adopted by the Republican National Convention, proxies are prohibited by these Uniform State Rules. One (1) Alternate Delegate for each Delegate to that State Convention may be elected at each County Convention held for the purpose of electing such Delegates and/or Alternate Delegates.
      1. Alternate Delegates shall be elected in the same manner and at the same time and under the same Rules as the Delegates to that State Convention are elected.
      2. An Alternate Delegate shallserve in the place of only one Delegate.
      3. No elected Delegate shallbe elected or be permitted to serve as an Alternate Delegate.
  6. STATE - CONVENTIONS - MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE PRECEDINGThe Republican State Central Committee shall meet immediately preceding any Republican State Convention, at the time, date, and public place designated in the Call for the Convention, for the purposes of considering any contests of Delegations to the State Convention, determining the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the State Convention, selecting the Temporary Officer of the State Convention, recommending any Special Rules for the State Convention, and considering any other proper business.
    1. Contests:Contests, if any, of Delegations to any Republican State Convention shall be filed with the Secretary of the State Central Committee not later than one hour prior to the time designated for the meeting of the State Central Committee called to meet immediately preceding the Convention. Only a Republican from the affected county or the Advisory State Rules Committee may file. All contests so filed shall be heard and first determined by the State Central Committee.
      No contest shall be considered by the State Central Committee unless filed within the time designated in the Call for the State Convention, except by unanimous consent of the Committee; nor shall any contest be considered by the State Convention unless the same has been filed in accordance with these Rules and first considered by the State Central Committee.
    2. Temporary Roll of Delegates:The State Central Committee shall, immediately after the determination of any contests, make a Temporary Roll of Delegates to the State Convention. The Delegates constituting the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the State Convention shall have the power to confirm the Temporary Roll of Delegates, or may appoint a Credentials Committee to further consider and report their findings as to any contests.
      The State Convention shall have full power to finally settle any contests and finally determine the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the State Convention, but in voting at the State Convention the members of any delegation contesting or contested shall not have the right to vote upon the contest affecting their particular County, but shall have the right to vote upon any other contests or other matters arising prior to the final determination of the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the Republican State Convention.
    3. Temporary Officers - Selection of:The State Central Committee shall select the Temporary Officers of the State Convention, which Officers shall hold their positions until Permanent Officers are selected by the Convention.
      The Temporary Officers of the State Convention shall be:
      1. Temporary Chairman,
      2. Temporary Vice-Chairman, and
      3. Temporary Secretary.
    4. Convention Rules - Recommendation of:The State Central Committee may recommend Special Rules for governing the conduct of and procedures for the State Convention.
  7. STATE - CONVENTIONS - PRELIMINARY SESSION
    1. Meeting:The Republican State Convention shall meet at the time, on the date, and at the public place designated in the Call for the Convention.
    2. Call to Order:The State Convention shall be called to order by the State Chairman who shall announce the Temporary Officers selected by the State Central Committee. These Temporary Officers shall serve until Permanent Officers are named by the Convention.
    3. Opening Address:The Temporary Chairman, or someone selected by him or her, shall deliver the opening address of the Convention.
    4. Preliminary Session - Order of Business:Under the Temporary Officers of the State Convention, the Convention shall:
      1. Consider the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the State Convention, furnished by the State Central Committee, for either affirmation or further consideration and determination of contests.
      2. Appoint any and all committees the State Convention may determine proper for the purpose of the Convention and shall determine the method of selecting the same and the number of members of each committee. These committees shall report back to the Convention which shall have the power to accept, reject or modify any report of any such committee.
      3. Hear the opening address.
      4. Hear appropriate committee reports.
      5. Determine the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the State Convention.
      6. Select the Permanent Officers of the State Convention who shall be:
        
        Convention Chairman,
        
        Convention Vice-Chairman, and
        
        Convention Secretary.
  8. STATE - CONVENTIONS - MAIN SESSIONUnder the Permanent Officers of the Republican State Convention, the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the Republican State Convention shall proceed with the business for which the Convention was called.
  9. STATE - CONVENTIONS - UNIT RULE - FRACTIONAL VOTES - BOTH PROHIBITED
    1. Vote by the Unit Rule at any Republican State Convention is prohibited.(The "Unit Rule" provides that a sub-group shall cast its total number of allocated votes in agreement with only a majority vote of that same sub-group.)
    2. Fractional votes at any Republican State Convention are prohibited.
  10. STATE/DISTRICT - CONVENTIONS - NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE SELECTIONFor any Republican State or District Convention at which Delegates and Alternate Delegates from New Mexico to the Republican National Convention are to be selected the following shall be used:
    1. Representation:The Party shall endeavor to have equal representation of men and women in its Delegation to the Republican National Convention with the understanding that this is not intended to be the basis of any kind of quota system.
    2. Allocations:The number of National Convention Delegates and Alternate Delegates selected shall be in strict conformity with the Rules adopted for and the Call for each Republican National Convention .
    3. Special Allocation - Four Women and Four Men:The total number of New Mexico Delegates shall include at least four women and four men, and the total number of New Mexico Alternate Delegates shall include at least four women and four men. This special allocation is to assure full membership on all of the four Committees of the Republican National Convention.
    4. General Procedurefor Nomination and Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention:
      Nomination and election of Congressional District and State-Wide At-Large Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention shall be done by the following general procedure:
      1. Self-Nomination:Any properly qualified registered New Mexico Republican voter wishing to be a nominee for Delegate/Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention shall, prior to the Quadrennial Republican State Convention, file a written notice of his or her self-nomination with the State Chairman not later than a due date set by the State Chairman. Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the due date set by the State Chairman, written notice of that date shall be mailed to each County Chairman.
        
        A self-nominee shall be a properly qualified registered New Mexico Republican voter on or before October 1 of the year before the year in which the Republican National Convention is to be held.
        
        A self-nominee can run in his or her Congressional District Election or in the State-Wide At-Large election, but not both.
        
        The notice of self-nomination shall contain the nominee's:Full Name,
        Sex,
        Registered Residence Address,
        Current Mailing Address,
        County of Voter Registration,
        Telephone Number(s),
        "Congressional District Election" or "State-Wide At-Large Election" designation (but not both).
      2. State Chairman's List of Self-Nominees:Immediately after the deadline for the filing of self-nominations for Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention, the State Chairman shall direct that a list be prepared of all properly filed and qualified self-nominees.
        The State Chairman's list shall contain the nominee's:
        Full Name,
        Sex,
        Current Mailing Address,
        County of Voter Registration,
        Telephone Number(s),
        "Congressional District Election" or "State-Wide At-Large Election" designation (but not both).
        Copies of the State Chairman's List of Self-Nominees shall be made available promptly, upon request, to any properly qualified elected Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the Quadrennial State Convention.
      3. No Floor Nominations - Exception:There shall be no nominations from the floor of any Convention for Delegate and/or Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention except in the case of actual failure of the self-nomination process to meet the allocated number of elected Delegates or Alternate Delegates.
      4. Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates - Ballots - Voting:Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention shall be by secret ballot appropriate and separate for each Congressional District as authorized by the elected officers of the State Central Committee and prepared prior to the Convention. The names of all qualified self-nominees, properly filed prior to the involved Convention, shall be listed on each appropriate ballot in alphabetical order of surname, along with sex and County of Voter Registration for each. The ballot for each Congressional District shall include the list of self-nominees for the District Election and the list of self-nominees for At-Large election by the State Convention.
      5. Determination of Delegates and Alternate Delegates - Rosters - Boards of Election Judges - Resolution of Tie Votes:Election shall be determined for the Convention by a Board of Election Judges confirmed by each Congressional District and the State Convention at large. Election of delegates and alternate delegates shall be determined by the Election Judges, by highest votes received, from a Roster of Nominated Candidates arranged in descending order of votes received. Tie votes shall be resolved by lot.
      6. Vacancy in the New Mexico Delegation:In the event of a vacancy occurring in the New Mexico Delegation prior to the formal certification of the Delegation to the Republican National Convention, the State Chairman, in consultation with the involved Board of Election Judges, and in conformance with national requirements, shall determine a replacement from the convention Roster, based on the highest vote received. Such action shall be deemed formal action of the involved Convention.
      7. Ballot Preparation and Handling/Election /Determination of Results - Detailed Procedures - Preliminary Committees:At a meeting of the elected officers of the State Central Committee held to call the Quadrennial State Convention, the State Chairman shall appoint the following Committees:
        
        A Preliminary Rules and Order of Business Committee to draft Special Rules,
        
        A Preliminary Ballot Preparation, Voting Procedures and Security Committee, and
        
        A Preliminary Board of Election Judges, a minimum of one from each Congressional District.
      8. Republican National Convention - Costs and Expenses - Delegates and Alternate Delegates:Each Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention from New Mexico shall pay his/her own expenses, and funds of the Republican Party of New Mexico shall not be used.
3. STATE - NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
  1. STATE - NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS - VACANCIESIn the event of a vacancy in the Office of the Republican National Committeeman or Republican National Committeewoman, the State Central Committee shall elect his or her successor at a properly called meeting within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs.
4. STATE - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
  1. STATE - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - NOMINATION BY CONVENTIONAll Republican Candidates for State or Multi-County District Public Office, in any instance where the Primary Election Law does not apply, shall be nominated by a majority of all Delegates, present in person or by proper proxy, at a State Convention called for the purpose. Such nominations shall be certified to the Secretary of State by the Chairman and Secretary of the State Convention within seventy-two (72) hours after the Convention has adjourned.
  2. STATE - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - PARTY NOMINEESAll Republican Candidates for State or Multi-County District Public Office regularly and lawfully nominated, under and by virtue of the Primary Election Law or these Rules, shall be the candidates of the Republican Party for the respective Offices to which they shall be so nominated.
  3. STATE - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - VACANCIESIf a vacancy occurs in the certified lists of Republican Candidates for State or Multi-County District Public Office, either before or after any Primary Election, such vacancy can be filled under the law. The vacancy shall be filled by the State Central Committee, or appropriate county, or appropriate district members of the State Central Committee, which action shall be deemed the action of the State Central Committee. The Chairman and the Secretary of the State Central Committee shall certify to and file with the Secretary of State the name of the candidate selected by the State Central Committee to fill the vacancy.
  4. STATE - UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - VACANCIES If a vacancy occurs in the Office of a United States Representative, a candidate to fill such vacancy shall be nominated by a properly called meeting of a special ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee comprised of the members of the State Central Committee from the involved Congressional District. Or, if the ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee finds it possible within the law, such candidate shall be nominated by a Special Congressional District Convention which shall be called and conducted, as applicable, in the manner of a State Convention as provided in the Uniform State Rules.
    Any ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee called to nominate or to provide for the nomination of a candidate to fill a vacancy in the Office of United States Representative shall be confined to that purpose only.
    The Uniform State Rules governing the State Central Committee shall be, where applicable, the Rules for governing any ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee.
    The Officers of the State Central Committee shall be the Officers of any ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee, but no one of them shall be permitted to vote in the ad hoc Congressional District Central Committee proceedings unless he or she happens to be a properly registered Republican voter of the involved Congressional District.
    The legally required published notices for any meeting to elect Delegates to any Convention resulting from this Rule shall be published at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting notwithstanding any other Rule.
5. STATE - UNIFORM STATE RULES
  1. STATE - UNIFORM STATE RULES - AMENDMENT
    1. These Uniform State Rules of the Republican Party of New Mexico may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members of the State Central Committee present in person or by proxy at any regularly called meeting thereof.
    2. Any proposed amendment to these Uniform State Rules which has been properly submitted in writing to each member of the State Central Committee prior to or with the Official Call for a meeting of the State Central Committee may be adopted in substance by a majority vote of the members of the Committee present in person or by proxy at the meeting.
    3. Any member of the State Central Committee may properly submit in writing a proposed amendment to these Uniform State Rules to the State Chairman who shall have the duty to see that the proposed amendment is included with the next Call for a meeting of the State Central Committee, unless the proposed amendment shall have been disapproved for such inclusion by the State Executive Committee.
    4. Any member of the State Central Committee may properly submit in writing a proposed amendment to these Uniform State Rules directly to each member of the State Central Committee.
  2. STATE - UNIFORM STATE RULES - FILING OF AMENDMENTS
    1. Any amendment to these Uniform State Rules properly adopted at a meeting of the State Central Committee shall be filed within fourteen (14) days by the State Chairman and State Secretary with:
      1. The Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico,
      2. The County Clerk of each County in the State,
      3. The County Chairman in each County in the State, and
      4. The State Secretary of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
  3. STATE - UNIFORM STATE RULES - AMENDMENT EFFECTIn accordance with the Election Code, with regard to Political Party rules:
    "... no amendments shall be made less than one hundred twenty days prior to any general election, nor shall any amendment be effective until thirty days after being filed."

END OF ARTICLE 2

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ARTICLE 3 - COUNTY

COUNTY
1. CENTRAL COMMITTEE
  1. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - GOVERNING BODYThe Republican County Central Committee in each County in the State of New Mexico shall be the Governing Body of and shall have general supervision and control of the political affairs of the Republican Party of that County.
  2. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - SPECIAL POWERSEach County Central Committee shall have the power to delegate any part of its authority to a County Executive Committee, provided such delegation is not in conflict with any law.
  3. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP
    1. Apportionment:Each County Central Committee shall consist of a membership as follows:
      1. The Ward Chairman of each Ward in a Ward-based County or the Precinct Chairman of each Precinct in a Precinct-based County.
      2. An additional number of elected members nominated from each Ward in a Ward-based County or from each Precinct in a Precinct-based County, such number to be proportionally based on the number of votes cast in each such Ward or Precinct for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last preceding Gubernatorial Election for which official Election Canvass records are available, the proportion to be determined by each County Central Committee and properly included in the Supplementary County Rules of each County.
      3. Ex-officio members, as provided in the County Supplementary Rules.
    2. Terms of Office:The elected members of the County Central Committee shall be elected at the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention held in each County for that purpose, as provided in these Rules, and shall hold Office for a period of two years, or until their successors are selected and qualified. Unfilled openings at this meeting of the "New" County Central Committee shall be filled in accordance with the Supplementary County Rules.
    3. Proxies:Any member of a County Central Committee may appoint any qualified registered Republican voter of his or her Ward in a Ward-based County or of his or her Precinct in a Precinct-based County as his or her proxy to act and vote in his or her stead at any meeting of the County Central Committee unless prohibited in these Rules.
    4. Vacancies:Any vacancy occurring in the elected membership of any County Central Committee shall be filled by appointment by the County Chairman.
    5. Removal of County Central Committee Member:Any elected or appointed member of a County Central Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the County Central Committee present in person at a meeting properly called for the purpose and attended by at least 51% of the entire membership of the Committee. In such voting, proxies shall not be recognized.
    6. Automatic Vacancy in Position of County Central Committee Member:Each elected or appointed member of the County Central Committee shall be officially registered as a Republican voter and shall reside in, and his or her registered residence shall be in the Ward/Precinct in which he or she has been elected or appointed to serve. Should any elected or appointed member of the County Central Committee from a Ward/Precinct change his or her registered Political Party designation or should his or her registered residence for any reason cease to be in the Ward/Precinct, then the position of such County Central Committee Member shall immediately be deemed vacant and a successor shall be selected in the manner provided in these Rules for the filling of County Central Committee membership vacancies.
  4. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - COUNTY OFFICERS
    1. Organizational Meeting and Election of County Officers:At an organizational meeting of each County Central Committee to be held during the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention and immediately following the selection of the new members of the County Central Committee by the Convention, the newly constituted County Central Committee shall elect a:
      Chairman,
      First Vice-Chairman,
      Second Vice-Chairman,
      Secretary, and
      Treasurer.
    2. Terms of Office:The term of each elected Officer of each County Central Committee shall begin the first day following his or her election, and he or she shall serve for two years or until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed.
    3. Vacancies:
      1. General:Any vacancy occurring in the Office of any County Central Committee Officer shall be filled temporarily by a nominee of the County Executive Committee until the vacancy is filled by an election of the County Central Committee.
      2. Treasurer:In the case of a vacancy occurring in the Office of Treasurer of the County Central Committee, the Office shall be temporarily filled by an available Officer of the County Central Committee, designated by the County Chairman, who shall serve until a regular temporary replacement shall have been designated by the County Executive Committee. The designation by the County Chairman of a Temporary Treasurer shall be in writing with copies sent immediately to all members of the County Executive Committee.
        At no time shall the Offices or duties of Chairman and Treasurer of the County Central Committee reside in the same person.
    4. Removal of County Officers:Any Officer of a County Central Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the County Central Committee present in person at a meeting properly called for the purpose and attended by at least 51% of the entire membership of the Committee. In such voting, proxies shall not be recognized.
    5. County Officers - Ex-Officio Memberships:Each Officer of each County Central Committee shall be an ex-officio member of both the County Central Committee and the County Executive Committee with full voting rights.
    6. County Chairman - Powers and Duties:The Chairman of each County Central Committee shall automatically be the County Chairman of the Republican Party of the County with the following powers and duties:
      1. Duty to Call County Central Committee Meetings:The County Chairman shall have the power to call, with proper notice, meetings of the County Central Committee at such times as he or she may deem proper and shall have the duty to call such meetings when required by these Rules.
      2. Duty to Preside:It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to preside at the meetings of the County Central Committee.
      3. Duty - Calls and Notices:It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to insure that all calls and notices for meetings and conventions are properly issued in accordance with these Rules and the law.
      4. Duty to Certify:It shall be the duty of the incoming and/or outgoing County Chairman to certify the results of the Biennial Organizational County Convention to the State Chairman.
      5. Duty to Appoint Committees:The County Chairman shall have the duty to appoint such Committees as may be required by these Rules.
      6. Power to Appoint:The County Chairman shall have the power to appoint such other assis-tants, coordinators, or committees as he or she may deem proper.
      7. General Duties:The County Chairman shall perform all the duties imposed upon him or her under these Rules, such other duties as may be imposed upon him or her by the County Central Committee, all the duties usually incumbent upon him or her in connection with the Office of County Chairman, and any duties provided by law.
    7. County First Vice-Chairman - Powers and Duties:The County First Vice-Chairman shall exercise the powers and perform all the duties of the County Chairman in his or her absence and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman.
    8. County Second Vice-Chairman - Powers and Duties:The County Second Vice-Chairman shall exercise the powers and perform all the duties of the County Chairman in the absence of both the County Chairman and the First Vice-Chairman and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman.
    9. County Secretary - Duties:The Secretary of the County Central Committee shall carefully preserve all of the minutes of the meetings of the County Central Committee and those of the County Executive Committee, and shall perform all duties that may by required by such Committees.
    10. County Treasurer - Duties:The Treasurer of the County Central Committee shall perform such duties as may be required by the County Central Committee.
  5. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - MEETINGS - NOTICES
    1. Notices of County Central Committee Meetings:A written notice of any County Central Committee meeting shall be given to each member of the County Central Committee by any proper Officer or group of members not less than five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting.
    2. Meetings Called by One-third or More of the Members:One-third or more of the members of the County Central Committee, acting in unison, may call a meeting of the County Central Committee by giving proper notice.
    3. Quorum:A County Central Committee meeting quorum shall consist of those County Central Committee members present in person or by proper proxy at the time, date, and public place stated in the meeting Call.
  6. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
    1. Membership:Each County shall have a County Executive Committee consisting of the ex-officio members and such additional members named by the County Chairman and confirmed by the County Central Committee, as may be provided for in the Supplementary County Rules of the County.
    2. Chairman:The County Chairman shall be the Chairman of the County Executive Committee.
    3. Secretary:The County Secretary shall be the Secretary of the County Executive Committee.
    4. Record of Meetings:The County Executive Committee shall keep a record of all its proceedings.
    5. Annual Audit:Each County Executive Committee shall obtain an annual audit of all accounts and records of the Republican Party of its County within sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal year, and shall submit a financial statement at least annually to the members of the County Central Committee.
    6. Fiscal Year:Each fiscal year shall be determined by the County Executive Committee.
    7. Removal of County Executive Committee Members:Removal of any appointive member of the County Executive Committee shall be made by the County Chairman and confirmed by the County Central Committee.
  7. CENTRAL COMMITTEE - COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE
    1. Each County may havea County Finance Committee named by the County Chairman and approved by the County Executive Committee.
    2. The Treasurer of the County Central Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the County Finance Committee.
    3. The Chairman of the County Finance Committee shall be an ex-officio member of the County Executive Committee, with full voting rights.
    4. The County Finance Committee shall have the duty to cooperate with the State Finance Program.
    5. The County Finance Committee shall be responsible to the County Executive Committee for all funds coming into its hands.
    6. The County Finance Committee may appoint such other agents as it deems necessary for canvassing and collection of money.
    7. Removal of any appointive member of the County Finance Committee shall be made by the County Chairman and confirmed by the County Executive Committee .
    8. The County Finance Committee shall have a Chairman appointed from its membership by the County Chairman.
2. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS
  1. CONVENTIONS - REGULARRegular Republican County Conventions shall be held as follows:
    1. Quadrennial - To Elect Delegates to a Regular Quadrennial Republican State Convention:In any year in which a Presidential Election occurs a County Convention shall be held in each County, during the week specified by the State Chairman and as designated by the elected officers of each County Central Committee in a proper Call for the County Convention, to elect Delegates to the Regular Quadrennial Republican State Convention.
    2. Pre-Primary County Convention:In any year in which a Pre-Primary Republican State Convention occurs, a County Convention shall be held in each County, during the week specified by the State Chairman and as designated by the elected officers of each County Central Committee in a proper Call for the County Convention, to elect Delegates to the Pre-Primary Republican State Convention. In the year of the New Mexico Gubernatorial election, the Quadrennial Republican State Platform shall be an agenda item in the Pre-Primary County Convention.
    3. Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention:In odd-numbered years a Biennial Organizational County Convention shall be held in each County during the week specified by the State Chairman. The time, date, and public place for each such Organizational County Convention shall be designated by the elected officers of each County Central Committee in a proper Call to:
    4. Elect a new County Central Committee,
    5. Recess for a meeting of the new County Central Committee to elect new County Officers,
    6. Elect a new County Contingent of members of the State Central Committee, and
    7. Consider any other proper business.
  2. CONVENTIONS - SPECIALSpecial Republican County Conventions may be called for special purposes and, in particular, where the Primary Election Law does not apply, for the purpose of nominating candidates for Public Office.
  3. CONVENTIONS - OFFICER MEETING HELD TO CALL
    1. At least twenty-eight (28) days prior to the holding of any County Convention, a meeting of the elected officers of the County Central Committee shall be held to:
      1. Call for and fix the purpose, time, date, and public place for the holding of the County Con-vention.
      2. Determine whether to hold a County Convention with Caucuses scheduled separately at another time and place or to hold a County Mass Meeting with Caucuses held on the same day and the same location.
      3. Call for and fix the purpose, time, date, and public places for the holding of Ward Caucuses in Ward-based Counties or Precinct Caucuses in Precinct-based Counties, prior to the County Convention, during the week specified by the State Chairman, for the purposes of electing Delegates to the County Convention and for considering any other proper business.
      4. Determine the Republican Candidate whose vote in the last preceding Gubernatorial Election shall be the basis of apportionment for Delegates to the County Convention.
      5. Determine the proportion to be used for fixing the number of Delegates to the County Convention from each Ward in a Ward-based County or each Precinct in a Precinct-based County, such number to be proportionally based upon the votes cast for the Republican Candidate determined under Item 3. of this Rule 3-2-3.
      6. Determine the number of Delegates to the County Convention from each Ward in a Ward-based County or from each Precinct in a Precinct-based County.
      7. Provide for the nomination of Temporary Officers of the County Convention.
      8. Provide for or prescribe any additional Special Rules for governing the conduct of and proce-dures for the County Convention and Ward or Precinct Caucuses.
      9. Call for and fix the time, date, and public place for the holding of a meeting of the County Central Committee to immediately precede the County Convention to;
        
        consider any contests of Delegations to the County Convention,
        
        determine the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the County Convention,
        
        select the Temporary Officers of the County Convention,
        
        prescribe any Special Rules for the County Convention, and
        
        consider any other proper business.
      10. Consider any other proper business.
  4. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - NOTICES
    1. Mailed Notice:
      1. After a meeting of the elected officers of the County Central Committee held to call the County Convention and Ward or Precinct Caucuses, the Secretary of the County Central Committee shall mail a notice of the Call not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the Convention to each member of the County Central Committee. The notice shall designate the general purposes, times, dates, and public places of the Convention and Caucuses, the number of Delegates allocated to each Ward or Precinct and the time limit for the filling of contests with the Secretary of the County Central Committee.
      2. Included with the Call for any County Convention shall be a Call for the required County Central Committee meeting to immediately precede the County Convention.
    2. Published Notice:A notice of the County Convention and Ward or Precinct Caucuses shall be published by the Officers of the County Party organization in a newspaper of general circulation at least fourteen (14) days prior to each meeting, and the notice shall specify the time, date, and public place for holding each meeting, as provided by law. A clipped copy or a photocopy of each published notice, with an indication of the date of publication thereon, shall be mailed by the Officers of the County Party organization to the State Chairman immediately after publication.
  5. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - MEMBERSHIP
    1. Membership Roll of Delegates:The membership Roll of Delegates to a Republican County Convention shall consist of all of the Delegates properly elected by Ward Caucuses in Ward-based Counties or Precinct Caucuses in Precinct-based Counties, properly held for the purpose in each Ward or Precinct or at a properly held County Mass Meeting, as finally determined by the County Convention in accordance with these Rules.
    2. Proxies:The acceptance of proxies at any County Convention shall be determined by the Sup-plementary County Rules.
  6. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE PRECEDINGThe County Central Committee shall meet immediately preceding any County Convention, at the time, date, and public place designated in the Call for the Convention, for the purposes of considering any contests of Delegations to the County Convention, determining the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the County Convention, selecting the Temporary Officers of the County Convention, prescribing any Special Rules for the County Convention and considering other proper business.
    1. Contests:Contests, if any, of Delegations to any County Convention shall be filed with the Secretary of the County Central Committee not later than one hour prior to the time designated for the meeting of the County Central Committee called to meet immediately preceding the Convention. All contests so filed shall be heard and first determined by the County Central Committee.
      No contest shall be considered by the County Central Committee unless filed within the time designated in the Call for the County Convention, except by unanimous consent of the Committee; nor shall any contest be considered by the County Convention unless the same has been filed in accordance with these Rules and first considered by the County Central Committee.
    2. Temporary Roll of Delegates:The County Central Committee shall, immediately after the deter-mination of any contests, make a Temporary Roll of Delegates to the County Convention. The Delegates constituting the Temporary Roll of Delegates of the County Convention shall have the power to confirm the Temporary Roll of Delegates, or may appoint a Credentials Committee to further consider and report their findings as to any contests.
      The County Convention shall have full power to finally settle any contests and finally determine the Permanent Roll of Delegates of the County Convention, but in voting at the Convention, the members of any Delegation contesting or contested shall not have the right to vote upon the contest affecting their particular Ward or Precinct, but shall have the right to vote upon all other contests or other matters arising prior to the final determination of the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the County Convention.
    3. Temporary Officers - Selection of:The County Central Committee shall select the Temporary Officers of the County Convention, which Officers shall hold their positions until Permanent Officers are selected by the Convention.
      The Temporary Officers of the County Convention shall be:
      1. Temporary Chairman,
      2. Temporary Vice-Chairman, and
      3. Temporary Secretary, who shall be the Secretary of the County Central Committee, if pre-sent able to serve.
    4. Convention Rules - Prescribing of Special:The County Central Committee may prescribe Special Rules for governing the conduct of and procedures for the County Convention, provided such Rules shall not be in conflict with these Uniform State Rules, the Supplementary County Rules of the County involved, or any law.
  7. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - PRELIMINARY SESSION
    1. Meeting:The County Convention shall meet at the time, on the date, and at the public place designated in the Call for the Convention.
    2. Call to Order:The County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman who shall announce the Temporary Officers selected by the County Central Committee. These Temporary Officers shall serve until Permanent Officers are selected by the Convention.
    3. Opening Address:The Temporary Chairman, or someone selected by him or her, shall deliver the opening address of the Convention.
    4. Preliminary Session - Order of Business:Under the Temporary Officers of the County Convention, the Convention shall:
      1. Consider the Temporary Roll of Delegates to the County Convention, furnished by the County Central Committee, for either affirmation or further consideration and determination of contests.
      2. Appoint any and all committees the County Conventionmay determine proper for the purpose of the Convention, and shall determine the method of selecting the same and the number of members of each committee. These committees shall report back to the Convention which shall have the power to accept, reject, or modify any report of any such committee.
      3. Hear the opening address.
      4. Hear appropriate committee reports.
      5. Determine the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the County Convention, and
      6. Select the Permanent Officers of the County Convention who shall be:
        
        Convention Chairman,
        
        Convention Vice-Chairman, and
        
        Convention Secretary.
  8. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - MAIN SESSIONUnder the Permanent Officers of the County Convention, the Permanent Roll of Delegates to the County Convention shall proceed with the business for which the Convention was called.
  9. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - UNIT RULE - PROHIBITION - DEFINITION
    1. Vote by the Unit Rule at any County Convention is prohibited.(The "Unit Rule" provides that a sub-group shall cast its total allocated number of votes in agreement with only a majority vote of that same sub-group.)
  10. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - ADJOURNMENT TO ANOTHER TIME, DATE, AND/OR PLACEA County Convention may be adjourned to another time, date, and/or public place by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the qualified Delegates present in person or by proxy at the County Convention as called.
  11. COUNTY - CONVENTIONS - CERTIFIED TALLIED RESULTS OF ELECTIONSWritten certified tallied results of all election votes cast at any County Convention shall be carefully preserved and certified copies forthwith delivered by the Officers of the Convention to both the County Chairman and the State Chairman.
3. COUNTY - STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
  1. COUNTY - STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS - COUNTY CONTINGENT
    1. Election:The elected members of the County Contingent of the State Central Committee from each County shall be elected by and at the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention.
    2. Certification:The County Chairman or his or her designee in each County shall, within five (5) days after their selection by the County Convention, certify to the State Chairman the names and addresses of the members of the newly elected State Central Committee County Contingent.
    3. Terms of Office:The elected members of the State Central Committee shall hold office for a period of two (2) years, or until their successors are selected and qualified.
    4. Proxies - Proxy Certificate:Any member of the State Central Committee may appoint any qualified registered Republican voter of his or her County as his or her proxy to act and vote in his or her stead at any meeting of the State Central Committee, unless prohibited in these Rules. Each proxy certificate must be in writing and signed by the State Central Committee member giving the proxy, and shall name the person to be the proxy, shall name the meeting for which given, and shall state the date it was signed. Each such proxy certificate must be registered and accepted by the State Central Committee before said proxy may be exercised at the State Central Committee meeting.
    5. Proxy Limit:No person shall be permitted to hold and/or exercise more than five (5) proxies of members of the State Central Committee at any meeting of the State Central Committee.
    6. Vacancies:Any vacancy occurring in the membership of a State Central Committee County Contingent shall be filled by appointment in accordance with the Supplementary County Rules by the County Chairman in the County where the vacancy occurs, and he or she shall certify same to the Chairman and Secretary of the State Central Committee and such appointee shall thereupon become a member of the State Central Committee for the remainder of the term of office of the member being replaced.
    7. Removal of State Central Committee Member:Any member of a State Central Committee County Contingent may be removed by a two-thirds vote of all the members of his or her County Central Com-mittee present in person at a meeting properly called for the purpose and attended in person by at least 51% of the entire membership . In such voting, proxies shall not be recognized.
4. COUNTY - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
  1. COUNTY - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - NOMINATION BY CONVENTIONAll Republican Candidates for County Public Office, in any instance where the Primary Election Law does not apply, shall be nominated by a majority vote of all Delegates, present in person or by proper proxy, at a County Convention called for the purpose. Such nominations shall be certified by and to the proper Officials, as provided by law, within seventy-two (72) hours after the Convention has adjourned.
  2. COUNTY - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - PARTY NOMINEESAll Republican Candidates for County Public Office regularly and lawfully nominated under and by virtue of the Primary Election Law, or these Rules, shall be the Candidates of the Republican Party for the respective Offices for which they were so nominated.
  3. COUNTY - CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - VACANCIESIf a vacancy occurs in the certified list of Republican Candidates for County Public Office, either before or after any Primary Election, and such vacancy can be filled under the law, the vacancy shall be filled by the County Central Committee and the name of the replacement Republican Candidate so chosen shall be filed with the County Clerk, as required by law.
5. COUNTY - SUPPLEMENTARY RULES
  1. COUNTY - SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTY RULES - PROVISIONSEach County Central Committee shall adopt a set of Supplementary County Rules which are not in conflict with these Uniform State Rules or with the law, and which do not abridge the lawful political rights of any person, and
    1. Which shall provide for:
      1. Adoption of these Uniform State Rules and any subsequent amendments thereto for the basic organization and government of the Republican Party in the County,
      2. Adoption of a Ward or Precinct base, but not both, for the administrative organization of the Republican Party in the County. In a Ward-based County, the County Central Committee shall define Wards for that County for Party organizational purposes.
      3. The number of votes and major fraction thereof cast in a Ward or Precinct, as the County is based, for the Republican Candidate for Governor in the last preceding Gubernatorial Election for which official Election Canvass records are available, which shall be used as a basis shall be for determining the number of elective members of the County Central Committee Contingent from that Ward or Precinct.
      4. The procedure for filling positions on the County Central Committee, if any, unfilled by a Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention.
      5. The procedure for filling vacancies in the County Contingent to the State Central Committee.
    2. and which may provide for:
      1. Additional members of the County Executive Committee,
      2. Additional Elected Officers of the County Central Committee,
      3. Additional Ward or Precinct Caucus Procedures,
      4. Additional Rules for the conduct of the affairs of the Republican Party within the County,
      5. County Mass Meetings, and
      6. The use and limit of proxies at County Conventions.
  2. COUNTY - SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTY RULES - AMENDMENTThe Supplementary County Rules for each County may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the County Central Committee present in person or by proxy at any regularly called meeting thereof.
  3. COUNTY - SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTY RULES - FILINGThe Supplementary County Rules for a County or any subsequent amendments thereto, properly adopted at a meeting of the County Central Committee of that County, shall be filed within seven (7) days by the County Chairman and County Secretary with:
    1. The County Clerk of the involved County.
    2. The Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico.
    3. The State Secretary of the Republican Party of New Mexico for temporary referral to the Advisory State Rules Committee for review for conformity or conflict with these Uniform State Rules and with the law, and for subsequent permanent filing by the State Secretary.
  4. COUNTY - SUPPLEMENTARY COUNTY RULES - AMENDMENT EFFECTIn accordance with the Election Code, with regard to Political Party rules:
    ". . . . no amendment shall be made less than one hundred twenty days prior to any general election, nor shall any amendment be effective until thirty days after being filed."

END OF ARTICLE 3

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ARTICLE 4 - WARDS/PRECINCTS

WARD/PRECINCT - DEFINITION
1. DEFINITIONThe term "Ward/Precinct" as used in these Uniform State Rules shall be interpreted to mean "Ward" in a Ward-based County and to mean "Precinct" in a Precinct-based County.
2. COMMITTEE
  1. ADMINISTRATIVE BODYThe affairs of the Republican Party within a County at the Ward/Precinct level shall be administered by a Ward/Precinct Committee within each Ward/Precinct.
  2. MEMBERSHIPThe Ward/Precinct Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Ward/Precinct, provided for in these Uniform State Rules, and any others who may be additionally provided for in the Supplementary County Rules of a particular County.
  3. ELECTED OFFICERS
    1. Ward/Precinct Officers - Election, Qualifications, and Duties:
      1. At a Ward/Precinct Caucus called prior to or during the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention, the following Ward/Precinct Officers shall be elected:
        Chairman,
        Vice-Chairman, and
        Secretary
      2. Each Ward/Precinct Officer shall be officially registered as a Republican voter and shall reside in, and his or her registered residence shall be in, the Ward/Precinct in which he or she was elected or appointed to serve. Should any Ward/Precinct Officer change his or her registered Political Party designation, or should his or her residence or registered residence for any reason cease to be in the Ward/Precinct, then the Office of such Ward/Precinct Officer shall immediately be deemed vacant, and a successor shall be selected in the manner provided in these Rules for the filling of Ward/Precinct Officer vacancies.
    2. Ward/Precinct Officers - Terms of Office:Each elected Officer shall serve for two years, except as oth-erwise provided in these Rules, or until his or her successor is duly elected or appointed. The term of each elected Ward/Precinct Officer shall begin the day of the Organizational Meeting of the County Central Committee at the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention.
    3. Ward/Precinct Officers - Vacancies:Vacancies In Ward/Precinct Offices shall be filled by appointment by the County Chairman to complete the term of the Officer being replaced.
    4. Ward/Precinct Officers - Removal:
      1. Any Ward/Precinct Officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the County Executive Com-mittee when:
        
        The Ward/Precinct Officer refuses or neglects his or her duties as such, or
        
        The County Chairman informs the County Executive Committee in writing that the Ward/Precinct Officer has been accused by voters of his or her of being disloyal to the Republican Party.
      2. Any Ward/Precinct Officer accused of refusal or neglect of duty, or of Party disloyalty, shall be given not less than five (5) days written notice that a vote on the question of his or her removal is to be taken by the County Executive Committee at a designated time, date, and place, and, if the accused Officer desires, he or she shall be entitled to a hearing before the County Executive Committee, before the vote on the question of his or her removal is held.
    5. Ward/Precinct Chairman - Duties:The duties of each Ward/Precinct Chairman shall be:
      1. To implement the Organizational Program of the County Central Committee.
      2. To prepare for and hold Ward/Precinct Caucuses as provided for in these Rules.
      3. To obtain and recommend to the County Chairman a full complement of qualified Repub-lican Election Officials to serve on the Precinct Board of each Precinct.
      4. To provide at least the number of qualified Republican Watchers and Challengers designated by the County Chairman for each Primary, General, and Partisan Special Election.
      5. To cooperate with the County Finance Program.
      6. To serve as an ex-officio member of the County Central Committee, with the power to vote.
    6. Ward Chairman - Special Provision:In any Precinct-based County which is not divided into two or more Wards, the County Chairman shall serve as and perform any functions of a Ward Chairman as may be required.
    7. Redefinition of Ward or Precinct Boundaries - Effect on Elected Officers:On the occasion of the redefinition of Republican Ward Boundaries by a Republican County Central Committee or the redefini-tion of County Voting Precinct boundaries by a Board of County Commissioners the offices of any Elected Party Officers of each affected previously existing Ward or Precinct shall be deemed abolished. The offices of the Elected Party Officers in each newly redefined Ward or Precinct shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled by appointment by the involved County Chairman as provided elsewhere in these Rules.
3. CAUCUSES
  1. GENERAL
    1. Biennial Caucuses to Elect Officers and Delegates:In odd-numbered years during the week specified by the State Chairman, the elected officers of each County Central Committee shall call Caucuses for each Ward in a Ward-based County or for each Precinct in a Precinct-based County for the purposes of electing new Officers and for electing Delegates to the Regular Biennial Organizational County Convention.
    2. Form - Local Meetings - County Mass Meetings:The elected officers of each County Central Committee shall determine for each County whether Ward/Precinct Caucuses shall be held locally for each Ward/Precinct or shall be held centrally at a County Mass Meeting. Such determination may be made for each Call or may be provided for as regular policy in a County"s Supplementary County Rules.
    3. Elect Delegates to a County Convention:Prior to any County Convention, Ward/Precinct Caucuses shall be held within the County to elect Delegates to the County Convention from each Ward or Precinct as required.
    4. Elections - Paper Ballots - Certification of Results:
      1. Voting in any elections held at a Ward/Precinct Caucus for the election of a Chairman or for the election of Delegates to a County Convention, shall be by written secret paper ballot, except that a voice vote may be taken if there is only one (1) candidate for any one (1) ballot position.
      2. All votes taken at a Ward/Precinct Caucus for the election of Ward/Precinct Officers or for the election of Delegates to a County Convention shall be carefully tallied and the tallied results certified in writing by the Ward/Precinct Caucus Officers.
      3. The written certified tallied results of all election votes and all of any paper ballots cast at a Ward/Precinct Caucus shall be carefully preserved and forth-with delivered by the Officers of the Caucus to the County Chairman.
    5. Order of Business:The elected officers of each County Central Committee shall prescribe such Rules for the Conduct of Ward/Precinct Caucuses as they may deem proper, in addition to the following minimum Order of Business for a Ward/Precinct Caucus:
      1. Call to order by the Ward/Precinct Chairman,
      2. Reading of the Official Call,
      3. Nomination and Election of Officers of the Ward/Precinct Caucus,
      4. Nomination and Election of new Ward/Precinct Officers, when required by the Caucus Call, conducted by the Caucus Officers,
      5. Nomination and Election of Delegates to a County Convention, when required by the Caucus Call, conducted by the Caucus Officers, and
      6. Any other proper business.
    6. Proxies:No proxies shall be recognized or exercised at any Ward/Precinct Caucus.
    7. Adjournment to Another Time, Date, and/or Public Place:A Ward/Precinct Caucus shall be held at the time, date, and public place designated in the Official Caucus Call, and shall not be adjourned to another time, date, and/or public place.

END OF ARTICLE 4

END OF UNIFORM STATE RULES

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