The name of the Republican Party organization in Sullivan County, Tennessee shall be The Sullivan County Republican Party (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Party").

The purposes of the Party include, but are not limited to, electing Republican candidates to office on the national, state, and local levels, recruiting candidates to run for office; assisting the Tennessee Republican Party, the national Republican Party, the Republican National Committee and other Republican organization on the local, state, and national level in carrying out their purposes; raising funds for election campaigns and other Republican purposes; recruiting membership in the Republican Party, increasing public awareness of the Republican position on public issues; and fostering good citizenship in general.

Membership in the Sullivan County Republican Party shall consist of voters in the County who support the principles and candidates of the Republican Party. Participation in Republican Primary Elections is the principal requirement for membership. If challenged, a voter may establish eligibility for membership by public affirmation of allegiance to the Republican Party.

PRECINCT COMMITTEES

Section 1. Precinct Committees shall be established in each of the properly constituted election precincts of Sullivan County, Tennessee, to be known as Republican Precinct Committees of Sullivan County in accordance with Rule F provided in the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Section 2. Each Precinct Committee shall be composed of the Precinct Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and additional members determined by the number of votes cast in the precinct for the Republican nominee for President in the last General Election. Including the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Precinct Committee shall contain one (1) member for each 200 votes or majority thereof cast in the precinct for the Republican candidate in the last Presidential General Election, except that no precinct committee shall have less than two (2) members. A Precinct Secretary shall be elected to keep minutes and records of Precinct Committee Meetings and Precinct Meetings. The Precinct Secretary may be one of the members of the Precinct Committee or some other eligible precinct voter.

Section 3. Members of the Precinct Committee are designated as delegates to the biennial Precinct Delegated Convention.

Section 4. The Precinct Chairman, Vice-Chairman, members of the Precinct Committee, and the Precinct Secretary shall be elected at a Precinct Reorganization Meeting in accordance with these By-Laws & the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Section 5. The existing Precinct Chairman, or in his absence the existing Vice-Chairman, shall convene the meeting. If both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are unable to attend, the Precinct Chairman may appoint in writing a Temporary Chairman to act in his place and stead. If there is no existing Precinct Chairman or Vice-Chairman, the existing County Chairman may appoint in writing a Temporary Chairman.

Section 6. The number of members to be elected from each Precinct shall be determined by the Contest and Credentials Committee using official voting records of the appropriate General Election. The number shall be certified in writing and delivered before the reorganization meeting to the existing Precinct Chairmen, the existing Vice-Chairmen, or the duly appointed Temporary Chairmen along with the ballots for the election of officers and members, certification forms for reporting the results of the election, and a form for affirmation of Republican allegiance (See attached Exhibit A).

Section 7. Any citizen who is duly and properly registered to vote in the Precinct and resides within the Precinct shall be entitled to vote and participate in the Precinct meeting. Any citizen whose Party loyalty is questioned may be challenged by any other citizen present and qualified to participate. The challenged citizen shall be entitled to vote and participate in the meeting upon public and written affirmation of their allegiance to the Republican Party on the form duly furnished by the Contest and Credentials Committee (See attached Exhibit A). If residence is questioned, the challenged citizen shall vote on a paper ballot. That ballot shall be counted, marked, and set aside. Should any citizen not prove to be both duly registered to vote in such precinct and a resident thereof, his vote and participation will be null and void.

Section 8. The quorum at all Precinct meetings shall be those Republican voters in attendance who are residents of the precinct.

Section 9. The Precinct Chairman, Vice-Chairman, other Members of the Precinct Committee, Alternate Committee Members, and Precinct Secretary shall be elected by secret ballot unless only one candidate for the office(s) exists, at which time election may be by acclamation. Candidates shall be nominated from the floor and each office will be filled in the order listed in this section before nominations are made for the next office.

Section 10. The Chairman shall appoint two (2) Clerks and proceed to the election of a Precinct Chairman by a majority vote of the qualified voters present and voting. Runoffs shall be held, if necessary, to determine a majority. The newly elected Precinct Chairman shall upon election assume the chair and proceed to elect the other officers and members of the Precinct Committee.

Section 11. In the election of members of the Precinct Committees other than the officers, each qualified voter present and participating (no proxies shall be allowed) shall be entitled to vote for the number of members to which such Precinct is entitled. The total vote for each candidate shall be recorded and members in the number allotted to such Precinct shall be elected in order of highest total vote received. In case of a tie vote, all names involved in the tie will be used in consecutive slots. A run-off will be used if necessary for the last slot. Fractional members shall not be permitted. One alternate member shall be elected for each member, and in the absence of a regular member, the alternate may participate in his or her place in County Committee meetings. In case of a tie, the method used for the members will also be used for alternates.

Section 12. Within three (3) business days after the Precinct Convention, the newly elected Precinct Chairman shall certify the results of the election of Precinct Delegates to the County Chairman or to the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee on forms prescribed and furnished by this Committee, together with a list of names and addresses of citizens who voted and participated in the Precinct Meeting. The names and addresses of officers and members shall be available to the public. The ballots cast in this meeting shall be preserved by the Precinct Chairman until after the delegated County Reorganization Meeting. If the results of the election shall be contested or the certification rejected by the Contest and Credentials Committee, the ballots shall be delivered promptly to the Chairman of the Committee to be preserved until any possible contest shall be resolved or the time for filing any further contest shall have expired.

Section 13. Within seven (7) calendar days after the Precinct Conventions, the Contest and Credentials Committee shall meet and review all certifications made pursuant to Section 5 above. If it should reject any certification, the Chairman of the Committee shall within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter notify in writing any delegate whose credentials have been so rejected, specifying the time and place at which any contest of such rejection shall be heard. The determination of the Contest and Credentials Committee may be appealed to the Executive Committee as a whole, as specified in Article VI.

Section 14. Any voter participating in any Precinct Election may contest the results by filing a written notice of contest and stating the grounds thereof with the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee within five (5) days after the precinct Election. The notice shall be sent to the address specified in the newspaper advertisement concerning the precinct meeting. At its meetings as required in the previous paragraph, the Contest and Credentials Committee shall also fix the date, time, and place to hear all contests which have been filed with it, and the Chairman shall so notify the contestants and the contested delegates. Contestants may be represented by counsel at such contest hearings. The Committee or any contestant may cause a record to be made of such proceedings. All contests shall be heard and decided at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time fixed for the County Reorganization Meeting. The Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee shall at such time certify to the existing County Chairman and Secretary the names of all delegates determined to be qualified for such County Convention. The determination of the Contest and Credentials Committee may be appealed to the County Convention as a whole, in the manner specified in Article VI.

Section 15. Within thirty (30) days after holding the prescribed Precinct elections, the Precinct Committee, as newly elected, shall hold an organization meeting and appoint such sub-committees as may be required. Thereafter, the Precinct Committee shall hold such additional meetings as may be necessary. Full precinct meetings shall be held at least once annually. Precinct meetings and Precinct Committee meetings may be called (1) by the Precinct Chairman, (2) at the request of the County Chairman, or (3) on petition of not less than ten (10) qualified Republican voters in the precinct. Notification of precinct meetings shall be communicated by the Precinct Chairman, Secretary, or special call committee to known Republican residents of the precinct at least seven (7) days prior to the meetings, using the most expedient means available.

Section 16. The Precinct Chairman, Vice-Chairman, other Precinct Committee Members, and the Precinct Secretary (only if the latter is an elected Precinct Committeeman), shall be members of the County Committee for the ensuing biennium. They shall continue as members of that body in good standing until the next reorganization meeting and their successors elected, or until removal by resignation, death, or for cause. Removal for cause shall be based only on

and only after charges have been filed in writing with the County Chairman or the Secretary of the Executive Committee, specifying the cause or grounds upon which such removal is requested. Within seven (7) days after receiving written notice from the Secretary of the Executive Committee that such charge or charges have been filed, the accused shall have the right and privilege of filing a written rebuttal of all the charges and appearing in person before the Executive Committee of the County Committee. If removed from office held and/or from the Precinct Committee, he/she shall have the right of appeal to the entire County Committee from such order of removal within thirty (30) days from the issuance thereof. In each instance a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present in the respective committees shall be required for removal of the accused.

Section 17. Vacancies occurring in a Precinct Committee because of (1) disqualification by changing residence from the Precinct, (2) resignation, (3) death, and (4) removal for cause shall be filled in an election held at a precinct meeting called for that purpose by the Precinct Chairman, Precinct Vice-Chairman, County Chairman, or other prescribed methods for calling a precinct meeting. Such election shall be held as soon as practical after the vacancy is known, but not more than thirty (30) days from the date on which the vacancy occurred. Results of such election shall be reported to the County Chairman not later than ten (10) days after the election is held. Vacancies not filled within the time and in concurrence with this section shall be filled by appointments made by the Executive Committee.

Section 18. The resignation of any officer or members of the Precinct Committee shall be submitted in writing to the County Chairman.

Section 19. Each officer and member of the Precinct Committee shall be required to give full support and assistance to all official nominees of the Republican Party and to all elected Republican office holders.

Section 20. Should any precinct fail to hold a Precinct meeting or fail to elect officers and members at such meetings, the newly elected County Chairman shall appoint a Precinct Chairman and other precinct officers and committee members from qualified Republicans in such precinct, to serve until the next precinct reorganization. The County Chairman shall not, however, appoint delegates to the County reorganization meeting.

Section 1. The affairs of the Sullivan County Republican Party shall be governed by the Sullivan County Republican Party Executive Committee (hereinafter, the "Executive Committee").

Section 2. The duties and powers of the Executive Committee, in general, include but are not limited to the following: to have immediate charge and full control of the political and administrative affairs of the Sullivan County Republican Party and establish policy to guide and direct the precinct committees of Sullivan County; to adopt such rules and measures as may best promote the success of the Republican Party and the broadening of its base.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall hold monthly meetings on a day and at a time it shall determine most expedient for its membership. At the call of the County Chairman, it shall likewise hold other special meetings that may be deemed necessary and appropriate for proper functioning of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Treasurer, Legislative District Vice-Chairman and one (1) Assistant Vice-Chairmen for each legislative district within the county, three (3) At-Large Members, Immediate Past Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chairwoman or President of any duly chartered Republican Women’s Club within the county, Chairman of duly chartered Young Republican Club, the State Executive Committee members representing Sullivan County.

1. The legal counsel of the party, who shall be appointed by the County Chairman, shall be considered a member, but shall not have a vote in that position. A County Party legal counsel shall not be prohibited from simultaneously holding a voting position as a member of the Executive Committee.
2. If the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women or Tennessee Young Republican Federation is not organized in the County, then the State President or Chairman of each organization shall appoint one (1) person to serve as representative in that county and as the organization’s representative on the County Executive Committee. The elected President, Chairman, or properly appointed representative of any chartered Republican Women Organization or Young Republican Organization shall not be allowed to designate a substitute for the purpose of voting in the event of their absence at any county committee or executive committee meeting.
3. The Executive Committee shall not include Chairmen, Delegates, or representatives of Precinct Committees.
4. The Vice-Chairman or Vice-Treasurer shall automatically assume the office of Chairman or Treasurer, respectively, on a temporary basis, if either of said offices should become vacant. The Executive Committee shall proceed to elect a new Chairman or Treasurer, as the case may be, and fill any other office which becomes vacant, by majority vote, at a duly called meeting within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs. An officer elected to fill a vacancy shall serve until the next Party reorganization, and until his successor is duly elected and takes office. A vacancy occurs if a member of the Executive Committee dies, resigns, changes his residence out of the County, is removed from office, or otherwise becomes disqualified or unable to serve his complete term.
5. No County Chairman shall serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms.

Section 5. Following the close of the Bi-Annual County Reorganization Convention in accordance with these By-laws and Chairman shall automatically cease to hold office, and a vacancy shall exist, in the event of change of his place of voter registration outside the County which he serves; or the County Party Chairman may be removed for "cause" by action of the State Chairman and the State Executive Committee, upon written request signed by two-thirds (2/3) of the County Executive Committee. All other officers shall automatically cease to hold office if;

1. neglect of duty
2. inefficiency
3. disloyalty to the Republican Party

The action for removal for cause of a Executive Committee member, other than the Chairman, shall specify the grounds, and include a statement of the facts, and any documentation in support thereof, and shall designate a time and place with fifteen (15) days notice for a full hearing of the action and response, such hearing to be conducted by the County Chairman. A copy of such shall be served on the members of the County Executive Committee affected by such action, and their counsel, if any.

Section 6. The duties of these members of the Executive Committee shall include, but not be limited to the following:

Section 7. The quorum for the conduct of official business of the Executive Committee shall be eight (8) qualified members. Of the eight, one must be either the Chairman or Vice Chairman; and one must be either the Secretary, or the Treasurer. The remaining six (6) will come from the remaining qualified members.

Section 8. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to all members of the Sullivan County Republican Party. However, only members of the Executive Committee shall have a vote on matters coming before this Committee. The Chairman may limit the time a visitor can hold the floor. Notice of all regular, special, or called meetings of the Executive Committee shall be given to members of the Executive Committee and to the Chairmen of all Standing Committees. After it has been called to order, any meeting of the Executive Committee may be closed to non-members of the Executive Committee by the Chairman or the majority vote of the Executive Committee members present.

Section 9. The Executive Committee shall, at its first meeting each biennium or as soon thereafter as possible, appoint or elect from its membership or otherwise (1) a Vice Chairman; (2) a standing Executive Finance Committee consisting of a Chairman, the Treasurer as an ex-officio member, and additional members, the number to be decided by the Executive Committee on recommendation of the Treasurer; and (3) such other officers and sub-committees as is necessary to perfect its organization but not in conflict with the rules herein. In addition, it shall recommend five (5) persons to the State Primary Board (State Executive Committee) for appointment to the County Primary Board.

Section 10. The Executive Committee is authorized to appoint a committee of five (5) members with the title of Nominating Committee. This committee shall select, interview, and secure a slate of nominees for the biennial Reorganization of the Executive Committee. The nominees shall be bona fide Republicans and give their consent to be nominated. The Committee shall make its report known to the Chairman in time to be included in the notice of the Precinct Delegated Convention. Action of this committee does not in any way preclude further nominations from the floor for any office.

Section 11. Neither the Executive Committee as a body, nor the individual members of the Executive Committee may endorse a Republican candidate in a contested primary election or a Democrat or other non-Republican in an election in which a Republican is a candidate. Each member of the Executive Committee will give full support and assistance to all official nominees of the Republican Party for the Party ticket and to all elected Republican office holders. Those officers or members of the Executive Committee who will not or cannot conscientiously comply with the requirements set forth in this section will be expected to resign from office and/or membership on the Committee. If a member accepts a committee position for a specific candidate or is a candidate in a contested race between two or more Republicans during the convention or primary period, he/she must resign effective immediately.

ARTICLE VI

COUNTY BI-ANNUAL REORGANIZATION

Section 1. On or before January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee for the purpose of scheduling the next County Bi-Annual Reorganization Meeting, by written notice sent at least 15 days before such meeting. Such meeting shall take place on or before January 15 of each odd numbered year. At such meeting members present shall constitute a quorum. If the Chairman fails to call the meeting, the State Chairman shall appoint a temporary County Chairman to carry out the procedures for reorganizing the County Party. At such meeting, the Executive Committee shall also fix the schedules for holding the Precinct Reorganization Meetings within the County. The places designated for holding the Precinct meetings shall be suitable places open to the public within a precinct or within an adjoining or nearby precinct. Such Precinct meetings shall be held not more than fifteen (15) days preceding the County Reorganization meeting. If not already in existence the Chairman shall appoint, with the approval of the Officers present, a Parliamentarian and a Contest and Credentials Committee for the County Convention. The Contest and Credentials Committee shall consist of five (5) members from five (5) separate Precincts within the County.

Section 2. The duties of the Contest and Credentials shall include the following:

Section 3. At least ten (10) days before the Precinct Delegated Convention, the Chairman shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation with no less than 10,000 circulation within Sullivan County a paid advertisement stating the date, time and place for the holding of each Precinct Convention. The Precincts shall have the same geographic boundaries as the Precincts in the previous November general election. Such advertisement shall also specify the date, time and place, and the purpose, for holding the Precinct Delegated Convention. The advertisement shall also state the name and address of the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee, and shall specify the deadline for filing contests as to the results of any Precinct Convention.

Section 4. Only Delegates (including Alternates, if applicable) certified by the Contest and Credentials Committee shall be allowed on the floor. No proxies will be allowed.

Section 5. The quorum for the conduct of the official business shall be the presence of committee members or duly designated alternates representing one-third (1/3) of the precincts in the County.

Section 6. The order of business shall be conducted as set forth by the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman and shall consist of no less than three and no more than five members of the Executive Committee.

Section 7. Within ten (10) days after the Bi-Annual Reorganization Meeting the newly elected County Chairman and Secretary shall certify in writing to the Chairman of the State Executive Committee the names and addresses of the newly elected members of the Executive Committee, Precinct Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and delegates participating in the County Convention.

Section 8. In the event that any qualified Republican seeking to be elected to office and in attendance at the Reorganization Meeting of the County Executive Committee should desire to contest the results, a contest is deemed to exist. Such contestant should file notice of such contest with the Chairman of the State Executive Committee within five (5) days after such reorganization and shall simultaneously serve a copy of such notice on the County Chairman, Executive Committee members, and all contestants affected by such contest. Such Notice of Contest shall state with particularity the factual and legal basis for such contest.

Section 1. The County Executive Committee is authorized and empowered to decide by a majority vote of its members, at a meeting duly called for such purpose, whether or not Republican candidates for local or county offices shall be nominated and, if nominated, whether nominated by a Party primary or by a delegated county Republican convention. Said meeting of the Republican County Executive Committee shall be held more than fifteen (15) days prior to the candidate qualifying deadline as provided in Section 2-5-101 of the Tennessee Code Annotated. It may be called by the Republican County Chairman or by a majority of the members of the Republican County Executive Committee by giving each member seven (7) days prior written notice of the date, time, and place within the county where the meeting is to be held and the purpose thereof.

Section 2. At such meeting, if the County Executive Committee decides to nominate Republican candidates by convention, a time, date, and place for holding the convention shall be established. The date of said convention shall be after the date of the county reorganization, as provided in the existing Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party as adopted by the Republican State Executive Committee and before the first Thursday in May before the August election.

Section 3. The Precinct Chairmen, Precinct Vice-Chairmen, and Precinct Committee Members are designated as delegates to the Convention to select candidates. An alternate precinct committee member who has been duly elected at the most recent precinct reorganization meeting may participate in the convention in the absence of the corresponding delegate.

Section 4. The Secretary of the Executive Committee shall notify in writing all members of the precinct committees, including alternates, all members of the Executive Committee, and the members of the Contest and Credentials Committee, of the time, date, and place of the convention at least thirty (30) days before the date of the convention.

Section 5. The pertinent provisions of Article V for reorganizing the County Executive Committee shall govern the conduct of the convention and the certification of delegates.

Section 6. If a Republican candidate for any office covered by this Article chooses to contest the results of the aforesaid county convention, he/she may do so in accordance with the provisions of the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Section 7. If the County Executive Committee decides to nominate Republican candidates for local offices but not to hold a county convention for the nomination of said Republican candidates, notice of this decision must be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county. The notice must also include a message to all interested Republican candidates for local offices that they must notify in writing the Chairman or the Secretary of the Republican County Executive Committee of their intention to be a candidate for such office or offices by no later than twelve (12) noon on the 15th day prior to the candidate qualifying deadline as provided in Section 2-5-101 of the T.C.A. The County Executive Committee shall then direct the county election commission to hold the primary election in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-13-203 of the T.C.A. The mailing addresses of both the Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall be included in the newspaper advertisement.

Section 8. If a County Convention is not held to nominate Republican candidates for local offices, and if more than one such candidate for any one office notifies the Republican County Executive Committee of their intention to be a candidate for such office by no later than twelve (12) noon on the 15th day prior to the candidate-qualifying deadline referred to above, the County Executive Committee shall direct the county election commission to hold a Party primary election for the office in accordance with state law.

Section 9. If no more than one candidate for each office so notifies the Republican County Executive Committee, the County Executive Committee may decide not to direct the county election commission to hold a Republican primary election. The County Executive Committee may certify said candidate(s) directly to the State Primary Board and to the County Election Commission as the Republican nominee for the office. He/she shall then automatically be declared the nominee of the Republican Party for that office.

Section 10. If no Republican candidate for a county office has filed, been proposed, and/or duly approved for each contest, then a candidate may be selected and approved for the party for such vacancy on the county ticket by a majority vote of the County Committee, in a called meeting of that body with a quorum present. In the event of a tie vote, the County Chairman, presiding at such meeting, shall cast the deciding vote.

Section 1. The Executive Committee is hereby authorized to adopt such rules and regulations it may deem necessary and proper to perfect the organization or to provide for the government of the Executive Committee. No such rule or regulation so adopted shall be in conflict with any regulation or rule adopted by the State Committee or in violation of any law of the State of Tennessee. In all cases not covered specifically in these By-Laws, the current Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party shall govern if those are covered therein.

Section 2. In all meetings of the Executive Committee and the County Convention, unless otherwise provided herein, the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order will be the governing authority on parliamentary procedures.

This Constitution and By-Laws governing the organization and administration of the Republican Party of Sullivan County shall be subject to amendment at any meeting of the Executive Committee or the County Convention by majority vote when notice in writing has been mailed fifteen (15) days in advance of the intent to so amend, and provided a quorum is present and voting at such meeting on such proposed amendment or amendments.

Constitution and By-Laws originally adopted July 14, 1947.

Amended January 21, 1952; February 26, 1954; March 9, 1956; September 12, 1957; September 14, 1961; March 1, 1962; March 17, 1966; October 19, 1967; August 15, 1985; November 24, 1992; November 18, 1999; and September 21, 2006.

I, _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ of ________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

AFFIRM THAT I AM A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAT I RESIDE AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS IN WARD _____, PRECINCT______, AND THAT I AM DULY AND PROPERLY REGISTERED WITH THE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION TO VOTE IN SAID WARD AND PRECINCT.

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