Adopted at the State Convention June 8, 2002
RULES OF THE TEXAS REFORM PARTY
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1: The name of this political party shall be the REFORM party (“Party”).
Section 2: The purpose of this party shall be to nominate and support candidates for public office.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership in the Party is open to all registered voters who desire to support the Party and its platform, who affiliate with the Party in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
Section 2: Each Party member is entitled to participate in the official organization and activities of the Party to full the extent provided by these Rules.
ARTICLE III: RULES
Section 1: These Rules shall govern the organization, operation and function of the Party in compliance with the Texas Election Code.
Section 2: The effective date of these Rules shall be the date of their adoption by the State Party Convention.
Section 3: Any electoral rule shall be effective upon filing with the office of the Secretary of State, at which time any and all preceding Party Rules shall be repealed.
Section 4: These Rules may be temporarily amended by the State Executive Committee. A temporary rule must be considered by the first State Convention following adoption; if the Convention fails to act the temporary rule expires on the day after the date the Convention adjourns.
Section 5: The State Chairman shall file a copy of each rule change with the Secretary of State not later than the 30th day after the date of its adoption. The filing shall be accompanied by a written statement indicating whether the rule is temporary or permanent. If the State Chairman fails to make a timely filing, any two members of the State Executive Committee may make the filing. An electoral rule is not effective until filed.
ARTICLE IV: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Section 1: The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these Rules.
ARTICLE V: PARTY ORGANIZATION
Section 1: PRECINCT
a. Notice
1. Precinct Conventions shall be held in each even-numbered year on the second Tuesday in March at 7:00pm, or as soon thereafter as allowed to enter the Convention location by the presiding election judge(s). The Conventions shall be organized and held by the Precinct Executive Committee in each regular election Precinct.2. Each Precinct Chairman shall ensure the County Chairman has notified the appropriate County Elections official and has posted public notification that the Reform Party will be conducting a Precinct Convention in their Precinct, and shall obtain any necessary instructions or forms to comply with the requirements of holding a legal Convention.
b. Convention
1. Upon admitting a person for participation in the Convention, the Precinct Chairman shall administer the oath of affiliation. After administering the oath, the Precinct Chairman shall stamp each person’s voter registration certificate “Reform”. If the person does not present a registration certificate, on the person’s request shall issue an affiliation certificate. (Section 162.007) 2. Before conducting business, each Precinct Chairman shall ensure that a list is prepared containing the name, residence address and signature of each affiliating Texas registered voter admitted to participate in the Convention.
3. Each Precinct Convention shall elect from among its members a Chairman and Secretary plus any other officers it deems necessary or desirable. The officers elected comprise the Precinct Executive Committee. Each such officer shall serve a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and shall serve without pay.
4. Each Precinct Secretary shall take minutes on all actions of the Convention, including election of officers, and deliver these to the Precinct Chairman within 24 hours following the adjournment of the Convention.
5. Each Precinct Chairman shall ask if there are any resolutions. Each resolution shall be written, limited to one subject, and shall require majority vote to adopt.
6. Each Precinct Convention shall automatically elect all participants therein as delegates to the County Convention who desire to participate and can provide contact information.
c. Reports
1. Each Precinct Chairman shall sign and make two (2) copies of the list of participants with their contact information, adopted resolutions, and minutes and the list of elected delegates.2. Each Precinct Chairman shall deliver the original and one copy of the participant list, and one copy of the Convention minutes and any adopted resolutions, to the County Chairman not later than the third day after the day of the Precinct Convention. If delivered by mail, the documents shall be deposited in the mail not later than the second day after the date of the Precinct Convention.
d. Executive Committee
1. The Precinct Executive Committee shall consist of the Party officers in such Precinct.2. The Precinct Chairman shall be the principal and presiding officer of the Precinct Executive Committee and the chief executive officer of the Party within the Precinct, and shall be responsible for coordinating the Party’s Precinct activities under the direction of the Precinct Executive Committee and in accordance with State law.
Section 2: COUNTY
a. Notice
1. County Conventions shall be held in each even numbered year on the first Saturday after the second Tuesday in March at 10am at a location open to the public within the County, as determined by the County Executive Committee. 2. The County Chairman shall receive all candidates’ applications for nomination for county office by 2 January. Each application received shall be preserved for two years after the date of the County Convention.
3. The County Chairman shall receive all candidates’ applications for nomination for all District public offices wholly contained within the county from the State Chairman, to be returned within ten (10) days of the adjournment of the Convention.
4. Each County Chairman shall post notice of the hour and place for convening the Precinct Conventions within the respective County and the hour and place for convening the County Convention as required by law (Sections 181.064/174.023). The notices shall be posted on the bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the commissioner’s court and must remain posted continuously for the 10 days immediately preceding the date of the Conventions. Notice shall also be delivered to the County clerk not later than the 10th day before the date of the Conventions.
b. Convention
1. Each County Convention shall consist of the delegates elected at the Precinct Conventions within the County.
2. Each County Convention shall elect from among its members a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and any other officers it deems necessary or desirable. The officers elected comprise the officers of the County Executive Committee. Each such officer shall serve a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and shall serve without pay.
3. Each County Secretary shall take minutes of all actions of the Convention, including election of officers, and deliver these to the County Chairman following the adjournment of the Convention.
4. Each County Convention shall consider the adopted resolutions received from the Precinct Conventions within the County. Adoption shall require majority vote.
5. Each County Convention shall consider nominating candidates who have properly applied to be nominated by the County Convention. Delegates may only vote to nominate candidates for public offices within their districts or Precincts. A vote of no endorsement may be made.
6. Each County Convention shall elect one delegate and alternate to the State Conventions for every five (5) County members, or for any portion of five (5) members in the County.
The County Chairman shall forward the list of delegates to the State Convention and their contact information to the state chairman and the chairman of the credentials committee.
7. Each County Convention shall elect all county convention delegates as delegates to the appropriate senatorial District Convention. The County Chairman shall forward the list of delegates, including their contact information, to the respective District chairman and/or its credentials committee chairman.
c. Reports
1. Each County Chairman shall certify in writing the name and address of each candidate nominated by the Convention, for placement on the general election ballot. The written certification shall be delivered by the presiding officer to the authority responsible for having the general election ballot prepared not later than the 20th day after the date of the Convention.2. Each County Chairman & Secretary shall sign and make two (2) copies of adopted resolutions which are for the State and District Convention and shall deliver one copy to the State Chairman and the other copy to the State Platform Committee chairman or the State Rules Committee chair not later than the third day after the day of the County Convention.
3. Each County Chairman shall certify by signature the county’s list of delegates to the state convention, and shall deliver same to the state chairman within 15 days of the county convention.
4. Each County Chairman shall photocopy, and certify by signature, the list of delegates from each precinct to the county convention and shall forward each list to the appropriate district convention chairman within three days of their receipt, for the district’s use in issuing voting credentials to the district delegates. If delivered by mail, the documents shall be deposited in the mail not later than the second day after the date of the County Convention.
d. Executive Committee
1. The County Executive Committee in each County shall consist of the Chairmen of the Precinct Executive Committees of the Party within such County and the elected County officers.
2. The County Chairman shall be the principal and presiding officer of the County Executive Committee and the chief executive officer of the Party within the County, and shall be responsible for coordinating the Party’s County activities under the direction of the County Executive Committee and in accordance with State law.
3. Each County Executive Committee shall appoint one person from the county to serve on the State Platform Committee immediately upon the adjournment of the County Convention and shall advise the State Executive Committee of that appointment within 3 days.
Section 3: SENATORIAL DISTRICT (District)
a. Notice
1. Senatorial District Conventions shall be held in each even numbered year on the second Saturday after the second Tuesday in March at 10am at a location open to the public within the District, as determined by the District Executive Committee. 2. The District Chairman shall receive all candidates’ applications for nomination for all District public offices from the State Chairman, to be returned to the state chairman within ten (10) days of the adjournment of the Convention.
b. Convention
1. Each District Convention shall consist of the delegates elected at the County Conventions within the District.
2. Each District Secretary shall take minutes on all actions of the Convention, including election of officers.
3. Each District Convention shall consider nominating candidates who have properly applied to be nominated by the District Convention.
4. Each District Convention shall elect two persons to serve on the State Executive Committee, and shall elect an alternate for each of them to serve in the case of resignation or death.
c. Reports
1. Each District Chairman shall certify in writing the name and address of each candidate nominated by the Convention, for placement on the general election ballot. The written certification shall be delivered by the presiding officer to Secretary of State not later than the 20th day after the date of the Convention.2. Each District Chairman shall sign and make one (1) copy of the list of elected State Executive Committee members, with their contact information and deliver same to the State Chairman not later than ten days after the date of the District Convention.
d. Executive Committee
1. The District Executive Committee in each District shall consist of the Precinct Chairmen within such District and the elected District officers. Each such member shall serve a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and shall serve without pay.
2. The District Chairman shall be the principal and presiding officer of the District Executive Committee and the chief executive officer of the Party within the District, and shall be responsible for coordinating the Party’s District activities under the direction and control of the District Executive Committee and in accordance with State law.
3. Each Senate District Executive Committee shall appoint two persons from the Senate District to serve on the Rules Committee immediately upon the adjournment of the Senate District Convention and shall advise the State Executive Committee of that appointment within 3 days.
Section 4: STATE
a. Notice
1. The State Convention shall be convened in each even numbered year on the second Saturday in June at a time and location within the State as determined by the State Executive Committee.
2. The State Executive Committee shall determine the location of the State Convention. The location shall be declared and provided to the County Chairmen and Secretaries prior to the date of the County Conventions.
3. The State Chairman shall receive all candidates’ applications for nomination for a statewide or District office, by 2 January. Applications for all District offices shall be transmitted to the appropriate nominating Convention Chairman within 72 hours of its receipt, to be returned within ten (10) days of the adjournment of the Convention. Each application received shall be preserved for two years after the date of the Convention.
b. Convention
1. The State Convention shall consist of the delegates thereto elected at the County Conventions.
2. The State Convention shall consider the adoption of the adopted platform resolutions received from the County Conventions within the State.
3. The State Convention shall consider nominating candidates who have properly applied to be nominated by the State Convention.
4. One delegate and alternate to the National Convention shall be elected for each U.S. Congressional District, each of whom shall serve for two years or until their successor is elected. Delegates who reside in each U.S. Congressional District may vote for their respective delegate and alternate to the National Convention.
5. The State Party Convention, in Presidential years, shall nominate Presidential Electors and alternate Electors for each U.S. Congressional District. Only delegates who reside in each U.S. Congressional District may vote for their respective Presidential Elector and alternate Elector, except that in the event delegates from each Congressional District are not present, the full strength of the Presidential Electors may be elected by the convention at large. The State Party Convention, in Presidential years, shall also nominate two (2) Presidential Electors and two (2) alternate Electors, by all the delegates of the Convention. The Electors and alternate Electors shall be bound by the National Presidential Nominating Process.
c. Reports
1. The State Chairman shall certify in writing each candidate nominated by the Convention, for placement on the general election ballot. The written certification shall be delivered by the presiding officer to the Secretary of State not later than the 20th day after the date of the Convention.
2. The State Chairman shall deliver one (1) copy of the list of delegates and alternates to the National Convention, with their contact information, to the National Credentials Committee.
3. The State Chairman shall deliver one (1) copy of the names and contact information of the elected National Committee Members to the National Executive Committee.
d. Executive Committee
1. The State Executive Committee shall be comprised of two members from each State Senatorial District, elected from among the delegates at the respective State Senatorial District Conventions. Each such member shall serve a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and shall serve without pay. The State Executive Committee shall elect its officers from among its members. The election of State Executive Committee officers shall be conducted within 30 days of the State Senatorial District Conventions.2. The State Executive Committee (“Committee”) shall be the governing and administrative body of the Party and shall manage and conduct the day to day business and operations of the Party between each State Party Convention, in accordance with these Rules, subject to the direction and control of the State Party Convention, and in accordance with State law.
3. The State Executive Committee is empowered to take such action it deems necessary to comply with laws and regulations.
4. The State Executive Committee may elect additional national convention delegates to complete the party’s national convention delegate allotment. The statewide delegates may serve as national committee members and the statewide alternates, who shall be numbered to indicate the order of replacement, shall replace a national committee member upon a vacancy in that office.
5. The State Executive Committee shall elect the national committee members. All national committee members shall act only on behalf of the party; the State Executive Committee may instruct the national committee members on any subject.
6. The State Executive Committee shall select the party members to serve on the national standing committees. The state chairman is responsible for advising the national secretary of the standing committee assignments.
Section 5: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
a. Meetings of Executive Committees may be called by the Chairman or by written request to the Secretary by 1/4 of the Committee members.
b. Reasonable notice of all meetings of the Executive Committees shall be given by the Committee Secretary to all Executive Committee members.
c. Executive Committees may meet by telephone or by electronic means whereby all are able to “hear” and participate freely.
d. The presence in person or by telephone or electronic means of at least one-half of all Executive Committee members shall constitute a quorum.
e. Any action required or permitted to be taken by Executive Committees may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Committee shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. Action by written consent has the same force and effect as a vote of the Executive Committee members. Written consent may be given by regular mail or by internet e-mail to the Committee Secretary.
f. Each Executive Committee may constitute any additional special committee deemed necessary for carrying out their duties.
g. The State Executive Committee may call for a Special Convention if necessary.
ARTICLE VI: STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Section 1: STATE PARTY COMMITTEES
a. State Committee members shall be assigned by the District Executive Committees. No committee may have more than one (1) member from any one district, unless the state executive committee directs otherwise.
b. The State chairman shall appoint State Standing Committee Chairmen from each committee’s members. Committee Chairmen shall serve a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and shall serve without pay.
c. The State Party shall have the following Standing Committees:
1. Rules: To develop and propose amendments and procedural rules for the conduct of the Party’s business. The members are required to have at least a working knowledge of rules and their function.
2. Platform: To receive platform resolutions from the County Conventions, and review, debate, revise, consolidate, and make recommendations based on those resolutions for appropriate action by the State Convention. Any and all planks applicable to the national government shall be officially transmitted to the National Platform Committee for due consideration.
The Platform Committee consists of one person from each County Convention who shall promote the County Platform positions on the State Platform Committee. The Platform Committee Chairman shall be appointed by the State Executive Committee. There shall not be a quorum requirement for Platform Committee meetings.
d. The State Executive Committee shall constitute a Convention Committee as soon as practical to determine the best of available facilities for the Party’s biennial State Convention. The locations shall be in varying areas of the State. The committee’s findings, including cost and transportation facilities, and all the pros and cons of each available location, shall be reported to the State Executive Committee for their determination of location at least four (4) months preceding the Convention date. The Committee’s report can be transmitted in writing, by internet e-mail, or verbally at an Executive Committee meeting. The Committee shall make a determination as soon as possible after receiving the Convention Committee report, and the preparations shall be initiated immediately.
e. The State Executive committee shall provide the Credentials Committee with the delegate lists. The Credentials Committee shall be responsible for registering all delegates at the State Convention and insuring that each county’s membership is accurately represented at the Convention. The State Executive Committee may issue rules for the Credentialing Process, but they must be published no later than four (4) months preceding the State Convention date.
Section 2: COUNTY COMMITTEES
a. Each County Executive Committee shall constitute a Credentials committee to register all eligible delegates. If a County Executive Committee finds a Credentials Committee to be impractical, they shall serve as the Credentials Committee.
b. The County Executive Committee shall constitute a Platform committee to receive resolutions and compile a Party platform from those resolutions. The prior platform may be retained. If a County Executive Committee finds a Platform Committee to be impractical, they shall serve as the Platform Committee.
ARTICLE VII: PARTY OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1. Every Party Officer and standing and special Committee Chairman, from Precinct to State, shall say, show or display no favoritism for one or another competing Reform candidates over another. No staff member of a candidate for nomination may hold a Party office on any level.
Section 2: A Sergeant-at-Arms shall be chosen by the State Executive Committee. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall direct all Convention security. No candidate may bring security into the Convention Hall except those tasked to the candidate by the US Secretary of the Treasury.
Section 3: The Chairman of each Executive Committee shall be the official spokesperson at that level.
Section 4: The State Chairman shall serve as liaison to the State of Texas on all matters related to the Party’s relationship with the State, except as otherwise explicitly provided.
Section 5: The Secretary shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the Convention and the Executive Committee meetings, and shall maintain custody and oversight of all papers, petitions, books, videos, and records, except financial, and shall deliver the same in a proper and timely manner to his/her successor.
Section 6: The Treasurer shall receive and disburse, upon proper authorization, all moneys contributed or otherwise received for Party purposes; shall keep an accurate account and record of all receipts and expenditures; shall prepare and submit monthly and annual financial reports detailing current balance, income, expenditures and other details the Executive Committee may specify, to the Executive Committee; shall submit the financial books and records for an annual audit; and shall deliver all aforesaid financial books, records and reports in a proper and timely manner to his/her successor. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for filing and maintaining compliance with all applicable law and regulations regarding financial reporting. The Treasurer shall designate the bank and/or financial institution(s) within the appropriate geographic area, in which the Party’s funds shall be deposited, subject to approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 7: Disbursement of State Party funds shall require two signatures, the State Treasurer and State Chairman in that order.
ARTICLE VIII— GENERAL PROVISIONS:
Section 1. These Rules shall govern the organization, operation, and function of the Party. The legal authority for these Rules is the Texas Election Code, to which these Rules are subject. In the event of any interpretation deemed to be inconsistent with the Texas Election Code, the Texas election law prevails. County Parties may adopt rules for the conduct of their business that do not conflict with State Party Rules or the State Laws.
Section 2. Should any provision or any part thereof conflict with the requirements of Texas law, these rules are hereby automatically amended so as to conform with the requirements of law and to provide the Party authority to act thereunder.
Section 3. All elected State Party positions (including officers) may serve no more than three (3) consecutive two-year terms.
Section 4. Voting at any Convention shall be by show of hands or voting cards, the results determined by a majority, unless specifically provided otherwise by these Rules.
Section 5. A Quorum of any Committee shall be one-half of its members; the Quorum of a County, District or State Convention shall be one-half its registered delegates.
Section 6. Presentation of matters before any Convention shall be by written resolution, read as written. The resolution, after being read, shall immediately be handed to the officer presiding if not read by the presiding officer.
Section 7. The Executive Committee members, collectively, shall have access to all books and records belonging to and pertaining to the respective level of the Party.
Section 8. The officers, upon approval of the Executive Committee, may enter into contracts, and appoint committees necessary to carry out the duties of their respective offices.
Section 9: Convention Committees: Committee members need not be members of the Executive Committee, but must reside within the geographic boundaries affected. Committee members shall be appointed based on knowledge and ability. Committee members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
Section 10. A vacancy in any Executive Committee office shall be filled by the Executive Committee from among its members.
Section 11. The State Executive Committee may appoint an Acting District Chairman for any district which it deems insufficiently organized to elect its own Senatorial District Chairman, whose responsibilities and duties shall be determined by the State Executive Committee.
Section 12. The State Executive Committee may appoint an Acting County Chairman for any County which it deems insufficiently organized to elect its own Chairman. The responsibilities and duties of an Acting County Chairman shall be determined by the State Executive Committee.
Section 13. The County Executive Committee may appoint an Acting Precinct Chairman for any Precinct which it deems insufficiently organized to elect its own Chairman. The duties and responsibilities of an Acting Precinct Chairman shall be determined by the County Executive Committee.
Section 14. Any Party officer shall resign their Party office upon filing an application for nomination by the Party for public office, or filing a declaration of intent to run for public office as an independent candidate.
Section 15. All State Convention elections with three (3) three or more candidates shall be conducted using instant runoff voting.
Section 16. Any officer of any Convention, member of any executive, special or standing committee, or any delegate or alternate to any Party Convention, who violates or disregards the Rules of the Reform Party of Texas, or the directives of the Texas Election Code, shall be subject to a challenge. A written challenge, specifying the grounds therefor, shall be sent to the appropriate executive committee Chairman, with copy to the challenged member. Within seven (7) days the executive committee shall establish a nine (9) member investigation team, chaired by a member of their choice, to review the facts and report its finding back to the executive committee within fourteen (14) days. The executive committee shall then convene a hearing within the next fourteen (14) days, to allow the challenged member to contest the findings of the investigation. If the challenge is upheld by the executive committee, the member shall be prohibited from holding any elected or appointed position in the Party until the next election cycle.
Section 17. Definitions (Election Code Sec. 1.005)
a. “County office” means an office of the county government that is voted on countywide.
b. “District office” means an office of the federal or state government that is not voted on statewide.
c. “Statewide office” means an office of the federal or state government that is voted on statewide.
ARTICLE IX: PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND ELECTORS
Section 1: The Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates of the Reform Party of Texas shall be the Reform Party candidates for President and Vice-President selected at the Reform Party national nominating Convention. Should either or both candidates die, withdraw or become disqualified before the general election, the candidate for such office shall be the candidate chosen by the national Reform Party to replace the withdrawn or deceased candidate. The Reform Party of Texas shall take all necessary steps to cause the names and addresses of these candidates to be certified to the State of Texas as provided by Texas law and to otherwise ensure that the names of these candidates appear for these offices on the general election ballot in Texas.
Section 2: The Electors and alternate Electors shall be bound by the National Presidential Nominating Process.
Section 3: The State Chairman shall prepare and transmit to the State of Texas in accordance with Texas law a list of the Party’s nominees for Presidential and Vice Presidential electors. The Electors and alternate Electors shall be bound by the National Presidential Nominating Process.
Section 4: Should a nominated elector and/or alternate withdraw, die or become disabled before the general election, the State Executive Committee will certify to the appropriate elections officials the nominated alternate as the replacement Elector, and designate a replacement alternate Elector or both a replacement Elector and a replacement alternate Elector, and certification to the appropriate elections officials shall be timely made.
Section 5: No United States Senator or Representative in Congress, nor any person holding a federal office of trust or profit, may be nominated as a candidate for presidential elector or alternate elector. All nominees for electors and their alternates must be registered voters of the State of Texas and Reform Party members, and must meet all other requirements of Texas law regarding presidential electors.
I certify that these rules were adopted at the State Convention of the Reform Party of Texas which convened on June 8, 2002 in Ft. Worth, Texas. They were further amended at the State Convention of the Reform Party of Texas which convened on June 12, 2004.
David Collison
State Secretary (2002-2004, 2004-2006)
Reform Party of Texas
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