Committee Bylaws

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BYLAWS OF THE
BELKNAP COUNTY COMMITTEE OF THE
NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Adopted February 8, 2023
ARTICLE I

A. Composition:
1) The Belknap County Republican Committee (“BCRC”) is a part of the New Hampshire
Republican State Committee (“NHRSC”) and is established through Article V of the Bylaws of the
NHRSC. The BCRC along with the several other County and City Committees in the State of New
Hampshire make up the NHRSC. The BCRC includes all the towns and Laconia of Belknap
County.
2) The BCRC shall manage the affairs of the Belknap County Republican Party, direct the general
policy and campaign activities of the Party organization, and perform all lawful or customary
duties required of it. All Members and Associate Members are encouraged to participate in
BCRC subcommittees and/or to engage in other activities to further the objectives of the BCRC.

B. Membership:
1) The BCRC shall consist of the number of Members apportioned to it by the NHRSC. BCRC
Members shall be elected for a two-year term by the Belknap County Republican Party
Nominees and Delegates to the State Convention, as provided in the NHRSC bylaws, and shall
take office at the January meeting following the fall elections or as soon thereafter as is
reasonably practicable. Any registered Republican who resides in Belknap County is eligible to
become a Member. All references in this document to a “Member” mean a “State Committee
Member” as elected in the Fall caucus of the BCRC as held not later than December 15.
a) Members are expected to:
i) fully participate in BCRC’s affairs,
ii) help recruit and elect Republican candidates,
iii) promote the general welfare of the Republican Party.
iv) attend meetings,
v) assist in the campaigns of Republicans in the general election when possible,
vi) participate in one or more subcommittees when possible
vii) assist in organizing and participe in BCRC events.
2) Any registered Republican who resides in Belknap County is eligible to be considered as an
Associate Member. All elected Republican officeholders and/or state delegates are
automatically given the status of Associate Member.
a) Associate Members shall be entitled to:
i) fully participate in subcommittees as appointed by the Chair
ii) fully participate in BCRC’s affairs,
iii) help recruit and elect Republican candidates,
iv) promote the general welfare of the Republican Party.
v) attend meetings,
vi) assist in the campaigns of Republicans in the general election when possible,
vii) participate in one or more subcommittees,
viii) assist in organizing and participating in BCRC events.
3) A Member may propose to the Chair the admission of an eligible person as an Associate
Member. At the next regular meeting the Chair will propose Associate Membership. A
majority vote of the Members and Associate Members present will accept admission of
Associate Members. The Chair shall abstain from voting unless there is a tie and in that case
cast the deciding vote.
4) Associate Members may be removed from membership under the following conditions:
a) when the Associate Member has moved from Belknap County;
b) when the Associate Member is no longer an active participant in the work of the
committee;
c) when the Associate Member is elected as a full-Member of the BCRC/NH RSC;
d) an Associate Member can have their membership terminated by a majority two-thirds
vote of the Members present.

C. Meetings:
1) At least six (6) regular meetings shall be held in each calendar year, including one in January
following the biennial general elections. The BCRC Members may by majority vote set a
schedule of regular meetings. Additional meetings may be called by the Chair upon written
request of ten (10) BCRC Members to the Chair or the Chair’s own initiative.
2) Notice of all meetings and cancellations of meetings shall comport with Article III except
when exigent circumstances exist.
3) Meetings are open to all Members, Associate Members, and their guests, registered
Republicans, and like-minded Independents. No audio or video recordings or other reporting of
proceedings are allowed without the unanimous consent of all Members and Associate
Members present at the meeting.

ARTICLE II
A. Officers:
1.The officers of the BCRC shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, one
Member-at-Large, and MAY include a Chair Emeritus. Officers, except for Chair Emeritus and
Member-at-Large, shall be drawn from the roster of Members, and elected by the Members at
the following January regular meeting. Officers shall take office immediately at the January
meeting following the elections. The Member-at-Large shall be elected upon the conclusion of
the election of Officers at the January meeting by a majority vote of the Members and
Associate Members present. Nominations for Member-at-Large can be made by Members or
Associate Members. Members or Associate Members may qualify as nominees for these
positions.
2. An officer may be removed from office by majority vote of the Members for failure to fulfill
the duties and obligations of general membership, or neglect of duties and responsibilities of
office, provided the officer has been notified in writing by the Secretary of a pending act of
removal, the reason(s) for the removal and full opportunity to respond to the reason(s) for
removal.

B. Chair:
The Chair shall be the chief executive officer and shall ensure that the BCRC complies with all
duties as directed by the NHRSC and as outlined in these Bylaws. The Chair shall also ensure
the BCRC maintains complete and accurate records and an up-to-date roster of all BCRC
Members, Associate Members, and all (if any) Belknap County Republican city or town chairs.
The Chair may appoint subcommittees of the BCRC for the purpose of formulating and
presenting recommendations to the BCRC.

C. Vice-Chair:
The Vice-Chair, under the direction of the Chair, shall assist the Chair in the performance of his
or her duties, and in the Chair’s absence shall preside at meetings. In the event of a vacancy in
the office of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall become the acting Chair until the BCRC elects a new
Chair.

D. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the BCRC, shall keep proper books of account of all
funds received and paid out, and shall render proper accounting to the BCRC at each meeting
thereof. The Treasurer shall be fully accountable to the BCRC for his or her acts as Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall make the financial records of the BCRC available to the Executive
Committee upon request and shall provide a copy of the BCRC’s monthly bank statements to
the BCRC Executive Committee promptly upon receipt. The Treasurer shall be one of the
signatories authorized to sign checks on the BCRC’s treasury, and he or she shall pay the bills of
the BCRC upon written authorization of the BCRC Chair. All checks in excess of $1500, and all
checks payable to the Treasurer in his or her individual capacity, shall have two signatures,
those of the Treasurer and of the Chair.

E. Secretary:
The Secretary shall perform all duties and responsibilities usual to the office. The Secretary
shall keep minutes of all proceedings of the BCRC and shall keep and be custodian of the
permanent books and records of the BCRC, except the financial records.

F. Chair Emeritus
The Chair Emeritus shall be a former Chair of the BCRC and will act in an advisory non-voting
capacity to allow the BCRC to access valuable knowledge gained from serving in that past
position. The Members shall retain the right to leave this position unfilled by majority vote at
the January meeting.
G. At-Large Member:

 shall serve on the Executive Committee and assist in meetings and other
duties as the Chair may request.
H. Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Chair
Emeritus (if any) and the Member-At-Large. The Executive Committee shall have the authority
to act for the full BCRC by majority vote of all of its Members when necessary between
meetings of the BCRC.

ARTICLE III
A. Vacancies:
Vacancies of Members or, the Officers, with the exception of At-Large positions, shall be filled
by nomination and election at a regular meeting. Only Members in attendance shall participate
in the vote. Qualifications shall be the same as outlined in Article II, A,1. At-Large positions shall
be filled as provided in Article II, A, 1. Winners shall be declared by a majority vote of those
present and voting.

B. Rules of Order:
All BCRC business and meetings shall be governed by rules of conduct as determined by the
Chair.

C. Notices:
Notices of meetings shall be given at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting dates.
Members and Associate Members consent to receive written notice from the BCRC and its
Officers by email.

D. Bylaw Amendments:
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Members present at a regular
meeting. A copy of any proposed amendment shall be made available to all Members of the
BCRC with the meeting notice unless it is impracticable. Any Member or who wishes to submit
Bylaws amendments must bring it to the Executive Committee for review prior to the next
scheduled meeting.

E. Bylaws Conflicts:
In the event that there is a conflict between the BCRC Bylaws and the NHRSC Bylaws, the
NHRSC Bylaws shall prevail.
F.

 These Bylaws, shall replace and supersede any previously existing Bylaws which shall be
deemed as repealed upon adoption.
G. 

The BCRC shall not participate in or make endorsements in a contested primary.

ARTICLE IV
A. Indemnity:
Any person who was or is a party to any proceeding (other than an action by, or in the right
of, the BCRC) by reason of the fact that such person, is or was an officer of the BCRC, or of
any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in which such person
served as such at the request of the BCRC, shall be indemnified by the BCRC against the
expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense of such proceeding, or in connection with any appeal thereof, if
such person acted in good faith and in a matter such person reasonably believed to be in,
or not opposed to, the best interests of the BCRC and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reason to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. The foregoing
right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any
officer of the BCRC may be entitled apart from the provisions of this Section.

B. Liability:
Except as may be otherwise provided by law, no officer or other member of the BCRC shall
be personally liable for any indebtedness, contract note or other instrument executed for or
on behalf of the County Committee.