RULES OF THE PARTY.ORG PARTY OF TEXAS

NOTICE OF PRECINCT CONVENTIONS LOCATIONS

Article I: Definitions

The subsequent terms shall be uniformly interpreted across all documents governing the Party:

1) “Certificate of Affiliation” denotes a document that an individual seeking to join the Party.Org Party of Texas may obtain, in alignment with Section 162.009 of the Texas Election Code.

2) “Convention at the County Level” refers to the assembly within a county as stipulated by Section 181.061 (c) of the Texas Election Code.

3) “Notice of Vacancy” is a document outlining the events and context leading to the declaration of a vacancy in an office.

4) “Leader of the Delegation” signifies a member chosen by a delegation to act as its spokesperson.

5) “Convention at the District Level” indicates the assembly required within a politically defined district by Section 181.061 (b) of the Texas Election Code.

6) “Representative of the District” designates a State Legislative Executive Committee (SLEC) member representing a senatorial district of Texas.

7) “Election of General Nature” defines any election, aside from primaries, occurring at regular intervals on predetermined dates for electing officials to federal, state, and county positions.

8) “Election for Governor” denotes the general election held to choose a governor for a full term.

9) “Party” refers to the Party.Org Party of Texas.

10) “Position within the Party” encompasses any designated role to which an individual may be elected within the Party. “Officer of the Party” identifies a state-level official of the Party.Org Party of Texas, including positions such as Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

11) “Convention at the Precinct Level” describes the assembly of a voting precinct in the county as per Section 181.061 (c) of the Texas Election Code.

12) “Office of Public Service” entails any role elected by the populace or appointed by state or county authorities.

13) “Eligible Participant” conveys a delegate or alternate currently authorized to vote and engage in Party convention activities. Rules of the Party.Org Party of Texas As Established and Adopted January 2, 2024 Page 2 of 30

14) “Caucus at the Regional Level” involves a gathering of eligible participants registered to vote within a specific region.

15) “State-Level Convention” denotes the Party.Org Party of Texas assembly as prescribed by Section 181.061 (a) of the Texas Election Code.

16) “County Non-Affiliated” identifies any county not acknowledged by the Party.Org Party of Texas as affiliated.

17) “Certificate of Voter Registration” also known as various terms such as “voter registration”, “voter registration card”, or “voter ID”, represents the official voter registration documentation issued by the state of Texas.

18) “Member with Voting Rights” is defined as a category of membership detailed in Article III, Section II, regarding Voting Membership.

Article II: Name, Purposes, Duration, and Parliamentary Authority

I. Name

  1. The name of this organization shall be the “Party.Org Party of Texas”, hereinafter referred to as the “Party”.

II. Bylaws and Rules in Compliance with Texas Election Code

  1. Upon submission to the Office of the Secretary of State of Texas, in conjunction with the statutes, rules, and bylaws incorporated by reference herein, these regulations shall serve as the governing bylaws of the Party.Org Party of Texas. These bylaws shall be considered the Rules of the Party for the purposes of Texas Election Code (Title 10, Subtitle A, Chapter 163).

III. Purposes

  1. 1. The objectives for which this Party is established are as follows:
    1. To nominate and endorse Party.Org candidates for public office;
    2. To create and maintain Party.Org county branches throughout the state;
    3. To engage in political informational endeavors;
    4. To construct and sustain Party infrastructure, personnel, and requisite support systems to accomplish these objectives; and
    5. To establish affiliations with any prospective national Party.Org Party entity that may arise in the future.

IV. Duration

  1. The duration of this organization shall be perpetual.

V. Parliamentary Authority

  1. In the absence of specific provisions set forth by the United States Constitution, the Texas State Constitution, or these Rules, the most recent version of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, which is hereby adopted by reference, shall serve as the parliamentary authority for all assemblies, meetings, and conventions of the Party.Org Party of Texas, inclusive of all levels from precinct to county and state.

Article III: Membership

I. Membership In General

  1. All Voting Members and all Members belonging to other categories created by the SPOEC shall be recognized as Members of the Party.

II. Eligibility for Voting Membership

  1. Eligibility for Voting Membership within the Party shall be contingent upon the following criteria:
    1. The individual must qualify as a registered voter in the state of Texas, being 18 years of age or older;
    2. The individual must signify alignment with the objectives of the Party.Org Party of Texas by executing a statement to that effect;
    3. The individual must not be affiliated with any other political party;
    4. The individual must not actively pursue nomination for public or party office within any other political party; and,
    5. The individual must not be a candidate for public office by any other political party.

III. Voting Membership

  1. An eligible individual may attain Voting Membership at any time by affiliating with the Party and satisfying the criteria outlined in Article III, Section II.1 above.
  2. Upon request by an individual seeking Party affiliation, a member of the County Executive Committee for the county of the individual’s residence shall administer the party affiliation oath. In unaffiliated counties, a member of the State Party.Org Executive Committee (SPOEC), a person specially designated by the SPOEC, the State Chair, or any person authorized under Texas law shall administer the party affiliation oath.
  3. Following the administration of the oath, the administering party representative shall imprint the Party’s name onto the individual’s voter registration certificate or issue an affiliation certificate containing:
    1. The recipient’s name;
    2. The Party’s name (“Party.Org Party of Texas”);
    3. The name and official position of the issuer;
    4. The occasion on which the affiliation occurred, if applicable; and
    5. The date of affiliation.

IV. Termination of Voting Membership

  1. An individual’s Voting Membership shall cease if the individual:
    1. Submits a written declaration of termination to any Party official;
    2. No longer qualifies for affiliation with the Party.Org Party of Texas;
    3. Loses eligibility for Voting Membership under the criteria outlined in Article III, Section II.1; or
    4. Fails to affiliate with the Party on the date of the subsequent Precinct Conventions.

V. No Dues Required for Voting Membership

  1. No financial dues shall be obligatory for an individual to acquire Voting Membership.

VI. Additional Classes of Membership

  1. The SPOEC is vested with the authority to establish, abolish, or modify other categories of Membership. Such categories may or may not necessitate Voting Membership and may or may not entail contributions or dues, as determined by the SPOEC. These categories shall not confer any preferential treatment or privilege with regard to vote weight, voting procedures, elections, or appointments to office.

VII. Nondiscrimination and Inclusivity

  1. All Voting Members, alongside members of any additional classifications instituted by the SPOEC, are recognized as members of the Party, with a strict policy against discrimination ensuring no qualified individual is barred or limited in their membership rights and participation within the Party.

Article IV: Party Organization

I. Definition

  1. The State Executive Committee, referred to as “SPOEC” or “State Party.Org Executive Committee,” constitutes the governing body of the Party.

II. Composition

  1. The SPOEC comprises a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and District Representatives from State Senatorial Districts.

III. Term of Office

  1. SPOEC members hold office from the filing date of these Rules until the final adjournment of the State Convention at which they are elected, continuing until the final adjournment of the next state Convention.

IV. Qualifications of SPOEC Members

  1. All Party officers and SPOEC members must be Voting Members of the Party.
  2. Party officers and SPOEC members must be residents of the region or political subdivision they represent; a change of residence outside this area results in automatic office vacancy.
  3. No person may hold multiple SPOEC memberships simultaneously.
  4. Election to the State Executive Committee requires submitting an application to the Party Secretary, confirming Voting Member status, with the distribution of applicant information subject to SPOEC policy.

V. Swearing In and Agreements

  1. Within twenty (20) days of assuming office, members must:
    1. Take and sign an oath pledging to uphold the Party’s bylaws and fulfill their duties as representatives.
    2. Sign a statement confirming their review and understanding of relevant party documents.
    3. Sign a confidentiality agreement, as maintained by the SPOEC, subject to amendment at a state convention.

VI. Method of Selection

  1. In accordance with the TEXAS ELECTION CODE Sec. 181.004. (1) and TEXAS ELECTION CODE Sec.163.004, the Party.Org Party of Texas State Executive Committee is hereby established with the following members:
    1. Chair: Stanley Stephen Huntsman of 761 Trinity Hills Drive #2206, Austin, Texas, 78737.
    2. Secretary: Logan Isaac Coller of 915 Lauder Drive, Spicewood, Texas, 78669
    3. Treasurer: Edward Alexander Riggs-Miller of 4507 Slickrock Cove, Austin, Texas, 78747.
  2. Subsequent to the establishment of these Party Rules, the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote of eligible participants at each State Convention.
  3. Subsequent to the establishment of these Party Rules, the qualified participants present at each State Convention from each State Senatorial District shall meet and elect in district caucuses up to two representatives from that State Senatorial District.

VII. Duties

  1. The Chair shall be the principal and presiding officer of the SPOEC and the Party, and may perform the duties of any other Party officer whenever such an officer is unable to do so.
  2. The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of Chair whenever the Chair is unable to do so, and shall assist the Chair.
  3. The Secretary shall:
    1. Keep such minutes and records as are necessary for the operations of the Party;
    2. Manage the balloting process of the SPOEC;
    3. Give all notices required by these bylaws;
    4. Maintain and certify the official copies of the bylaws and Platform;
    5. Maintain a roster of names, addresses, emails, other electronic communication identifiers, and telephone numbers of members of the SPOEC, County Chairs of Affiliated Counties, candidates for the Party’s nomination for public office;
    6. Furnish the minutes and/or transcripts of the Party to all members of the SPOEC upon request.
  4. The Treasurer shall:
    1. Maintain the Party bank accounts and other financial assets;
    2. Ensure that the SPOEC is aware of the financial condition of the Party;
    3. Issue financial statements to the SPOEC at least quarterly; and
    4. Ensure that party funds are disbursed only according to these bylaws, state, and federal law.
  5. The District Representatives shall actively work to further the growth of the Party. This includes, but is not limited to, communicating current organizational status within their districts to the Party, communicating Party information to their districts, assisting with candidate recruitment efforts, developing county affiliates, oversight of Party administration, and assisting to ensure proper function of official Party events.
  6. All members of the SPOEC shall further have all other authority and duties implied by their title and expressed or implied by these bylaws, or assigned by the Chair or the SPOEC, and shall perform all other duties required of his or her office by applicable federal and state law, or by action of the SPOEC or by these rules. All members shall maintain a working knowledge of the parties governing documents.

VIII. Initial SPOEC Meeting

  1. Within the same day of the final adjournment of the State Convention the SPOEC shall convene a business meeting; for the purposes this section shall constitute proper notice.
  2. The SPOEC in the Bylaws of SPOEC shall maintain a bylaw governing the agenda of the first meeting, and shall not adjourn sine die without completing all items outlined in that agenda.

IX. Removal of Committee Members

  1. Removal for Absences
    1. If a Party officer or district representative is absent from two successive meetings of the SPOEC, at the call to order of the second meeting that position shall be declared to be vacant.
    2. An absence shall be counted against any meeting for the purpose of business of the SPOEC that requires a quorum and for which two (2) weeks notice was given.
    3. Whenever the SPOEC removes a member of the Committee, the Secretary shall officially notify that member of his or her removal.
  2. Removal by Recall
    1. A “Recall Petition” is a document containing a set of valid signatures that shall be clearly marked as a “recall”, and state that “By affixing your signature and information to this Recall Petition, you call for the SPOEC Officer or District Representative indicated on this form be removed from the SPOEC immediately.” Each signer shall print their name as it appears on their voter registration, signature, county, date of birth, and voter identification number. The signer must also include a phone number or email address to aid in verification questions.
    2. The Officers shall designate a person or persons to collect the Recall Petition and verify that it adheres to the signature requirement. Upon verification the document shall be made available to the SPOEC, and the listed SPOEC member shall be immediately removed from their position.
    3. To remove any SPOEC member, including any Officer, one of the following processes shall be used to obtain a set of valid signatures for the Recall Petition:
      1. Obtaining a Recall Petition that contains the signatures of a majority of Voting Members that were registered as attending at the election of an officer or SPOEC member according to the roll recorded in the relevant minutes, or
      2. Obtaining a formal Recall Petition that contains the signatures of a majority of Voting Members within the Party in the case of an officer, or the district in the case of a SPOEC member. The full roster of Voting Members in each county involved in the recall must be made available to the state Party for verification or the signatures from that county shall be invalid.
  3. Removal for Opposition
    1. No member of the SPOEC may use any resources associated with or carrying the name of the Party.Org Party to promote or endorse any candidate from another political party.
    2. Such members in violation of this bylaw may be removed at the discretion of the SPOEC by a simple majority vote of the entire SPOEC.
  4. Removal for Cause
    1. A member of the SPOEC may be removed for causes other than repeated absences from meetings by a three-fourths vote of the other members of the Committee.
    2. Procedures set forth in the Party’s parliamentary authority for disciplinary action shall be adhered to in order to protect the rights of both the accused and of the organization, including the appointment of an investigating committee, the adoption of a resolution preferring specific charges, setting a special executive committee meeting for a trial, and the holding of a trial of the accused.

X. Filling Vacancies

  1. Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer Vacancies
    1. Should a vacancy exist in the office of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, the SPOEC may fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
  2. District Representative Vacancies
    1. Should a vacancy exist in a District Representative seat the seat may be filled. The following procedure shall be used when filling a vacancy.
    2. For the purposes of this section, an “Eligible County” is an affiliated county that is wholly or partially within the senate district.
    3. Voting Members shall be eligible to be nominated only after they have met all requirements set forth in (Qualifications of State Executive Committee Members).
    4. A majority of CEC members in an Eligible County may nominate one Voting Member from their own county for each available position in that district and send nominations to the state chair.
    5. The State Chair shall notify and communicate relevant qualification documentation to all Eligible Counties and to the SPOEC for the nominations.
    6. Following the initial nomination notification from the State Chair, all Eligible Counties have thirty (30) days to submit additional nominations which shall be shared with all Eligible Counties and the SPOEC.
    7. Each eligible county may cast a ballot indicating a for or against vote for each of the nominated candidates starting thirty (30) days after the initial nomination notification from the State Chair and continuing to forty five (45) days after the initial nomination notification from the State Chair. Any votes not received after that time will be considered as against the candidate(s).
    8. The procedure for determining how each Eligible County’s ballot is cast shall be in accordance with that county’s bylaws that are on file with the Party.
    9. Each cast ballot shall be submitted to the State Secretary, or their designees.
    10. Any position is considered filled when a nominee has received votes in favor from a majority of all eligible counties. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall fill the first position available, and any additional positions shall be filled according to the next highest majority number of votes received.

Article V: County Affiliates

I. County Governing Authority

  1. There shall be in each affiliated county a County Executive Committee composed of a County Chair and such other officials of that county affiliate as the bylaws of that county affiliate may designate.
  2. County bylaws shall designate a procedure for filling vacancies on the County Executive Committee.
  3. County Chairs are required to provide a copy of the county bylaws to the state Party Secretary upon any adoption or alteration of said county bylaws. In the absence of county bylaws being on file, the SPOEC has the authority to recognize a qualified individual as County Chair in the event of a dispute.
  4. All County Executive Committee members must be Voting Members of the Party.

II. Affiliation of Counties

  1. Establishment of Provisional Affiliate and Appointing a County Chair
    1. 1. The SPOEC shall maintain a policy to establish a provisional county affiliate in any currently unaffiliated county. This policy shall include a process for vetting and appointing a County Chair for the provisional affiliate and assigning the provisional affiliate a set of bylaws, which shall include rules pertaining to the establishment of a County Executive Committee.
  2. Transition from Provisional Affiliate
    1. A county affiliate shall no longer be considered provisional when it has successfully conducted a County Convention and submitted all records thereof to the State Party.
    2. SPOEC retains the right to disaffiliate a provisional county affiliate at any time for any reason by a 2/3 vote. A provisional county affiliate shall be considered disaffiliated when all recognized members of the CEC have resigned.

III. Precinct Chairs

  1. In counties without local rules specifying a procedure for selecting Precinct Chairs, the County Executive Committee shall select the Precinct Chairs.
  2. Within three (3) days of the election or appointment of a Precinct Chair, the name, address, phone number, and email address of said Chair shall be sent to the State Chair.

IV. Automatic Disaffiliation for Failure to Hold a County Convention

  1. Any County Affiliate that, for whatever reason, fails to hold a County Convention in accordance with these bylaws or who fails to deliver within ten (10) days after a County Convention the county convention documents to the State Chair, or their designees, shall be disaffiliated.
  2. The county convention documents of a County Convention are:
    1. A roster of participants in the County Convention;
    2. A list of elected CEC members;
    3. A copy of current county bylaws if updated;
    4. A list of candidates, if any, nominated by the convention and certified in accordance with Texas Election Code Sec. 181.068;
    5. The minutes of the county convention;
    6. A list of elected district delegates, if any; and
    7. A list of elected state delegates and alternates, if any.
  3. The presiding officer of the County Convention shall make reasonable efforts to obtain the voter registration ID, date of birth, full name, address, and email address or phone number for any persons listed on any roster or list required by this section. Failure to deliver this information could result in rejection or disqualification as indicated in other sections of these bylaws.

Article VI: District and Precinct Executive Committees

I. District Executive Committees

  1. Whenever these bylaws or the actions of the SPOEC require action by a District Executive Committee, the membership of any such District Executive Committee shall consist of the County Chairs for counties wholly or partially contained within that district.
  2. If at the time a District Executive Committee is required there is no District Chair, the State Chair shall appoint one of the District Executive Committee members to be the District Chair.
  3. The District Executive Committee may, by majority vote of the entire committee, replace the current District Chair with another member of the District Executive Committee.
  4. On the day following the date of district conventions, all District Chair positions shall be considered vacant.

II. Commissioner’s Precincts and Justice Precincts Executive Committees

  1. The Precinct Chairs within a Commissioner’s Precinct, Justice Precinct, or other such local entity within a county shall constitute the District Executive Committee and such Precinct Chairs shall elect one of their number to serve as Chair of the Committee.

Article VII: General Rules for the State Executive Committee

I. Governing Authority

  1. These rules shall govern the conduct of all meetings and proceedings of the SPOEC of the Party.
  2. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised are hereby adopted by reference to govern all meetings and proceedings of the SPOEC of the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with state law, these Rules, or any special rules of order the SPOEC may adopt.
  3. SPOEC shall maintain bylaws that govern its own action. Bylaws of SPOEC may be amended by a 2/3rds vote of SPOEC or by a majority vote of the state convention. Where Bylaws of SPOEC conflict with these Rules, state law, or federal law the Bylaws of SPOEC shall yield.
  4. The SPOEC may make additional policies for its conduct so long as said additional policies do not conflict with these rules.

II. Powers of the State Executive Committee

  1. In compliance with these Rules and the directives of Conventions, the SPOEC of the Party shall carry on the activities of the Party at its level between Conventions, and shall have the control and management of all Party affairs, properties, and funds at its level.
  2. The State Executive Committee shall maintain policies to establish any staff as may be deemed necessary to assist the Party in its function. The State Executive Committee shall maintain a general policy to govern the removal of staff.
  3. The SPOEC shall decide whether to hold a Primary Election, and make appropriate notification thereof.
  4. The SPOEC may move the convention from a physical location to an online location, for good cause in an emergency situation which threatens the possibility of an inperson state convention, by a two-thirds vote of the entire body.
  5. The State Executive Committee may reject a county’s bylaws in their entirety for cause. The county must be notified of the time and place of a vote to reject county bylaws at least 20 days before a vote can be taken. A designated representative from the county will be given speaking privileges during any debate on the issue.

Article VIII: Party Conventions

I. Precinct Conventions

  1. The County Executive Committee shall set the place and time on the designated date for convening the precinct conventions, but no Precinct Convention, if held on a Monday through Friday, may convene prior to 7pm in a county with a population over 500,000, or 6pm in a county with a population at or fewer than 500,000.
  2. To be eligible to participate in a precinct convention, a person must be a registered voter of the precinct, and the person must also be a Voting Member of the Party.
  3. Each Precinct Convention shall automatically elect all participants thereof to be delegates to the County convention and shall elect no alternates. A person otherwise qualified need not be present at the Precinct Convention to be elected a delegate to the County Convention.
  4. Attendees for the convention may be pre-registered for the convention by electronic or paper registration.
  5. The Precinct Convention Chair may electronically scan and electronically submit convention documents to the County Chair and State Chair.
  6. A Precinct Convention shall only be recognized as valid if:
    1. It meets the requirements of Texas Election Code Sec. 181.062 through 181.067;
    2. The CEC notifies the State Chair, or their designees, of the hour and place of the precinct convention no later than ten (10) days preceding the date of the convention; and
    3. The precinct convention chair or their designee delivers a signed list of precinct convention participants to the County Chair and State Chair no later than the third (3rd) day after the date of the precinct convention.

II. County Conventions

A County Convention will be held on the designated date and time in accordance with these bylaws.

  1. Within twenty (20) days following the deadline for making applications for the nomination of the Party in a general election, the Secretary shall notify each county chair of any candidates who have filed with the State Chair that are required to be nominated at a County Convention.
  2. All candidates for the Party’s nomination for public office and for Party leadership shall be given an opportunity and encouraged to declare, prior to the voting on the Rules of the Party.Org Party of Texas As Established and Adopted January 2, 2024 Page 15 of 30 office he or she is seeking, what if any disagreements he or she may have with the state and national platforms.
  3. The County Convention shall be composed of all delegates thereto who were duly elected by their Precinct Conventions that year, and who are Voting Members.
  4. Unless specifically addressed by the County bylaws, all delegates may vote for nomination of candidates for districts that are entirely contained within the county and for which an application for nomination was filed with the State Chair or with the County Chair as required by the Election Code.
  5. A County Convention shall only be recognized as valid if:
    1. It meets the requirements of Texas Election Code Sec. 181.063 and Sec. 181.064 by posting public notice of the hour and place of the precinct and county conventions;
    2. The CEC notifies the state Chair, or their designees, of the hour and place of the county convention no later than ten (10) days preceding the date of the convention; and
    3. The CEC is able to produce valid evidence of proper notice of precinct and county conventions upon request by either the state Party officers or by the Credentials committee.

III. State Delegates and Alternates from a County Affiliate

  1. The County Convention may elect delegates and alternates to the State Convention and to any appropriate District Conventions.
  2. County Conventions may elect a list of delegates and a list of alternates to the State Convention, and each list shall not exceed the total number of delegates allocated to that county.
  3. All delegates and alternates elected by a county convention must be qualified voters of that county, and Voting Members.
  4. A person otherwise qualified need not be present at the County Convention to be elected a delegate or alternate to the State or District Conventions.
  5. Alternates shall be assigned a number corresponding to their precedence of seating. The number assigned shall be a whole number between 1 and the total number of alternates. Unless another method is chosen at the County convention, then the assignment of precedence number shall be chosen by random lottery by the Credentials committee.
  6. Each delegate and alternate shall not be credentialed unless their voter registration ID, date of birth, full name, address, and either email address or phone number is provided to the Party in a manner prescribed by the State Chair.

IV. District Conventions

  1. A District Convention will be held on the designated date and time for each district which is made up of more than one county or parts of more than one county and for which district at least one (1) person has filed with the State Chair an application as a candidate for nomination for public office.
  2. All candidates for the Party’s nomination for public office and for Party leadership shall be given an opportunity and are encouraged to declare, prior to the voting on the office he or she is seeking, what if any disagreements he or she may have with the state and national platforms.
  3. The District Convention shall be composed of all delegates thereto who were duly elected by their County Conventions of that year, and are Voting Members.
  4. Within twenty (20) days following the deadline for making applications for the nomination of the Party in a general election, the Secretary shall send each County Chair a correspondence informing the chair that they are a member of a District Executive Committee (as specified in these bylaws) for each district for which at least one (1) person has filed an application for nomination. The correspondence shall contain the following:
    1. A list of the districts which are contained in whole or in part in the county for which one or more applications for nomination have been received;
    2. The names, addresses, and phone numbers of the Chairs of the other affiliated counties in each such district;
    3. Identifies which member of the District Executive Committee is the District Chair;
    4. A list of candidates who have filed for the Party’s nomination for that district.
  5. The District Executive Committee shall determine the time and location of the District Convention for that district. Care shall be given to minimize scheduling conflicts between overlapping districts.
  6. All members of each District Executive Committee shall be notified and have the opportunity to vote in the location selection. The District Chair shall report to the state chair at least fifteen (15) days before the district convention the location and time of the convention. If the District Chair fails to report in time the state chair may select a location and time within the district.

Article X: State Conventions

I. Composition and When Held

  1. A State Convention will be held in even-numbered years in accordance with these Rules. 2. The State Convention shall be composed of all delegates thereto who were duly elected by their County Conventions of that year.

II. Apportionment of Delegates and Alternates

  1. The SPOEC may limit the number of delegates and alternates that each county may elect to the State Convention to a fraction of the total number of votes cast in that county for all Party.Org nominees for statewide offices in the most recent general election for state and county officers. For the purposes of this section, nominees for federal offices are considered to be excluded. Such a fraction, if established, shall be uniform for all counties.
  2. The number calculated under subsection (i) shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number and shall not be fewer than three.
  3. An additional delegate seat, and an alternate seat shall be allocated for each ten percentage points received, up to fifty percent points, in the highest performing county race as measured by percentage in the most recent general election. A county race for purposes of this section shall be defined as a race for public office nominated at county convention.

III. Seating of Delegates and Alternates

  1. Qualified participants shall be seated together by County at the State Convention.
  2. County delegations may select from amongst themselves a Delegation Leader to help coordinate and communicate the status of their county delegation.
  3. Alternates shall become qualified participants in order of precedence to fill any vacancies up to the maximum allotment of available delegate seats for the County they represent.
  4. An alternate may temporarily relinquish their right to be seated which allows the next available alternate in precedence order to be seated.
  5. A seat vacancy occurs when:
    1. A delegate does not register as attending;
    2. A qualified participant communicates they are temporarily vacating their seat to allow an alternate to take their seat; or
    3. A qualified participant permanently leaves the convention.
  6. If an unseated alternate wishes to be recognized as available to be seated, they shall remain in a designated alternate seating area until such time as they are called to fill a vacancy.
  7. The lack of a presence of a token or other identifying mechanism shall not preclude a delegate or alternate from being seated nor prohibit a qualified participant from participating in a convention.

IV. Committees of the Convention

  1. Committees Described
    1. A Credentials Committee, which shall establish the temporary roll of the convention, report to the convention the list of County Affiliates that delivered county convention records and recommendations to establish the permanent roll of the convention, and continually update the roll for any changes to qualified participants throughout the convention;
    2. Any other committees which the SPOEC may deem it proper to establish.
  2. Membership of Committees
    1. The members of all committees at State Conventions shall be appointed by the SPOEC no later than four months prior to the Convention.
    2. Those persons chosen to be members of committees must be notified of their selection within thirty days after the SPOEC meeting at which they are selected.
  3. Credentials Committee
    1. The SPOEC shall maintain policy to govern the responsibilities and authority of the Credentials committee on any topics not established in these bylaws.
    2. The Credentials Committee of the State Convention, not fewer than sixty (60) days prior to the County Convention, shall notify county chairs of each Affiliated County reminding them of their obligation to read, understand, and fulfill the requirements prescribed by these bylaws in order for their conventions to be considered valid and for the credentialing of their elected delegates to state convention.

V. Committee Procedures in General

  1. The Chair of each committee at a Convention shall be the presiding officer of that committee.
  2. The vote of a majority of those committee members present shall be necessary to recommend to the floor the passage of any proposal.
  3. A committee member must be present in order to vote.
  4. A majority of the voting membership of each committee excluding vacancies shall constitute a quorum for that committee.
  5. Any Voting Member shall have the right to submit proposals to any committee of the state convention for its consideration. All such proposals shall be made in writing and delivered to the chair of the committee.
  6. No later than 30 days after the first meeting of the committee that committee shall adopt rules governing the time and manner in which Voting Members may present their proposal to the committee, and adopt a final date where consideration of new proposal submissions will be considered. Such rules shall be made available in a manner easily accessible by any Voting Member.
  7. The committee shall adopt no rule restricting which Voting Members may present proposals, and shall not deny any Voting Member the right to present a duly submitted proposal according to its rules.

VI. Convening of Committees

  1. All committees shall first convene officially no later than the first day immediately preceding the Convention to which they shall report, but such committees may meet informally at any time at their discretion.

VII. Committee Reports

  1. The chair of each committee, or the chair’s designees, shall report the committee’s recommendations to the floor of the Convention. Recommendations on the report may be made individually or as a whole. The convention chair or committee chair shall preside over any discussion and any votes on recommendations.
  2. A committee may also issue a minority report or reports which shall have priority of consideration and from which specific amendments or substitutions may be moved as long as it has the support of the greater of two (2) or one-third (1/3) of the members of the committee.
  3. Each proposed amendment or substitution to a recommendation shall be debated and voted upon separately.

VIII. Order of Business

  1. At all State Conventions the order of business shall be as follows:
    1. The Temporary Chair calls the Convention to order;
    2. The Credentials Committee report on the Temporary Roll;
    3. The Temporary Chair introduces the temporary officers of the Convention and the Temporary Chair resumes the Convention;
    4. Any opening ceremonies;
    5. The Credentials Committee report and action to establish the Permanent Roll;
    6. The nomination and election of permanent officers of the Convention;
    7. The Permanent Chair resumes the Convention;
    8. Nomination of candidates for public office;
    9. Nomination and election of state Party officers;
    10. The Chair announces clearly to the Convention the place of each regional caucus;
    11. Recess for regional caucuses;
    12. Regional caucuses meet and elect District Representatives;
    13. The Chair calls the Convention back to order;
    14. Regional caucuses submit their minutes to the Convention Secretary;
    15. Nomination and election, if any, of delegates and alternates to the national convention;
    16. Nomination and election, if any, of Presidential Elector candidates;
    17. Other business;
    18. Acceptance speeches, if any, by nominees for public office;
    19. Adjournment.

IX. Functionaries of the State Convention 

  1. The State Chair may designate such temporary officers and assistants as he or she deems necessary to plan, arrange, and conduct the necessary work of the Convention until it elects its own permanent officers. Such temporary officers and assistants shall have those duties which are assigned to them.
  2. The permanent officers of the Convention shall be a Chair, Secretary, and any additional officers who may be elected.
  3. The Parliamentarian shall be chosen before the Convention by the SPOEC.
  4. The permanent officers shall be elected separately and not as a slate.

X. Voting in District Caucuses

  1. District caucuses at State Conventions may elect their District Representatives in whatever manner they choose as long as all delegates and alternates present from that region are given an equal voice in the election.
  2. Each district caucus shall submit minutes to the convention secretary containing a roster of participants and election results before a district election shall be considered valid.
  3. All delegates and alternates that are credentialed on the permanent roll may participate in the district caucus that they belong to, as found on their voter registration, regardless of their status as a qualified participant.

XI. Platform and Resolutions

  1. The Party shall have no permanent Platform.
  2. Proposed resolutions must receive the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the qualified participants for adoption by the Convention.

Article XIII: Election of Presidential Electors

I. General Provisions

  1. The State Convention in a Presidential election year shall elect a number of Presidential Elector candidates equal to the total number of United States Senators and Representatives to which the state is at that time entitled under law.
  2. Any Voting Member of the Party who does not hold any office of profit or trust under the United States shall be eligible to be a Presidential Elector candidate.

II. Selection Process

  1. If for any reason the State Convention cannot or does not select Presidential Elector candidates, Presidential Elector candidates shall be chosen by the SPOEC.

III. Candidate Affidavit

  1. Each Presidential Elector candidate shall file with the State Chair a written affidavit attesting to his or her intention to support the Party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees. Should any Presidential Elector candidate fail to file such affidavit within a reasonable time, he or she shall be subject to removal and replacement by the SPOEC.

Article XIV: Election of Delegates and Alternates to National Conventions

I. National Delegate Eligibility

  1. A person is eligible to become a delegate to a National Convention of any subsequently created Party.Org National Party the Party.Org Party of Texas chooses to affiliate with, if the person is a Voting Member of the Party.

II. Number of Delegates

  1. The total number of delegates to the national convention shall be that number assigned by the National Executive Committee of any subsequently created Party.Org National Party the Party.Org Party of Texas chooses to affiliate with, in their call to the Convention.

III. National Alternates for National Delegates

  1. At the national convention alternates shall serve in the same order of precedence as their vote ranking in the absence of delegates, except as may be provided otherwise by the rules of the national Party.

IV. National Alternates Election

  1. Alternates to the national convention shall not require a majority to be selected. Rules of the Party.Org Party of Texas As Established and Adopted January 2, 2024 Page 23 of 30

V. Selection by State Executive Committee

  1. If national party rules should require the election of delegates to a national convention at a time when it would not be possible for a state convention to do so, such delegates and alternates shall be chosen by an open meeting of the SPOEC.
  2. If reasonably possible, at least 60 days prior public notice of this meeting shall be given including publication in a state Party newsletter or other form of written notice.
  3. Any Voting Member may appear before the SPOEC at the meeting for a reasonable time to present arguments for the election of himself or herself or any other Voting Member to be a delegate or alternate.
  4. The delegation chair shall have the power to add or remove delegates or alternates.

Article XV: General Rules Governing Party Conventions

I. Governing Authority

  1. These Rules shall govern all proceedings and the conduct of all meetings of all Conventions and caucuses and committees at Conventions at all levels.
  2. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised are hereby adopted by reference to govern all proceedings and the conduct of all meetings of all Conventions and Caucuses and committees at Convention of the Party at all levels in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with state law, these Rules, or any special rules of order which may be adopted.
  3. Any Convention may make any additional rules for its conduct and proceedings which do not conflict with state law or these Rules.
  4. It shall be the duty of the presiding officer at the opening of each Convention to provide a summary explanation of the special rules which will govern that convention and the ways in which the action of that Convention may influence important Party actions and decisions at subsequent levels of the Convention process.

II. Eligibility to Vote at Conventions

  1. All qualified participants at any convention shall be eligible to vote on all matters before the floor of that Convention, except for regional caucuses at State Conventions.
  2. In order to vote on any given matter, a qualified participant must be present on the floor at the time the vote is taken.
  3. Each qualified participant present shall have one vote.
  4. A person must be a Voting Member of the Party in order to participate in procedures at a Convention or serve as a qualified participant.

III. Quorum

  1. The quorum at any Convention shall be a majority of the qualified participants registered as attending. 2. Delegates and alternates may permanently leave the State Convention by submitting signed notification to the Credentials Committee at which point they will be removed from the permanent roll.

IV. Voting Procedures

  1. Unless otherwise provided elsewhere in these Rules, the method of voting at all Conventions, and caucuses and committees at Conventions of the Party may be:
    1. Voice vote;
    2. Show of hands;
    3. Standing division of the house;
    4. Written secret ballot; or
    5. Roll call vote.
  2. Unless otherwise specified in these Rules, the method used shall be left to the discretion of the presiding officer, provided, however, that:
    1. A division vote must be taken on the request of any qualified participant. Said participant need not have the floor to call for a division vote.
    2. A roll call vote must be taken when requested by one-fifth of the participants.
    3. All votes taken shall be counted by the presiding officer and secretary or their designees.
    4. Elections must be held by secret ballot when there is a contested race for any Party office or offices (including delegate and alternate) or for the Party nomination for any public office (including Presidential Elector candidates).
  3. Proxy voting or voting by proxies is prohibited in all conventions and caucuses and committees at Conventions of the Party.
  4. The use of the unit rule or the practice of instructing delegates and alternates shall not be permitted at any level of the Convention process.

V. Limits on Discussion

  1. No qualified participant shall speak for more than five minutes on any one motion at any Convention; provided, however, that the persons making the majority and minority reports of any committees may speak on such reports for not exceeding ten (10) minutes each and then may answer legitimate questions relating to such reports from any qualified participant.
  2. The discussion on any motion shall not exceed a total of twenty minutes time.

VI. Petition to Place Item on Agenda

  1. A petition signed by delegates or alternates with a number of signatures equal to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified participants of any Convention shall be sufficient to automatically place any legitimate item of business on the agenda of that Convention for its consideration.
  2. The item of business will be placed as the last order of business under the agenda category for which it was written.
  3. Any petition to add business to the agenda shall clearly state the motion and agenda category it shall be placed under. The petition must be signed, have the full name in clear print for each signer, list the county of each signer, and list whether the signed is a delegate or alternate for a signature to be valid.

Article XVI: Nominations and Elections

I. Filing Procedures

  1. No person may be the nominee of the Party for any public office who has not filed an application with the Party to be nominated for that office, in accordance with these Rules.
  2. If a candidate who has made an application to be nominated withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible, the filing deadline for applications for nomination for that office is reopened and extended until 11:59 PM of the day before the date of the Convention at which the nominee for that office is chosen.

II. Nominating Procedures

  1. All nominations for Party office or for the Party nomination for public office shall be made from the floor and no nominations by committee shall be permitted.
  2. The motion to close nominations shall require a two-thirds vote, and such motion shall not be in order until a reasonable time has passed.
  3. Nominations of candidates for public office at the State level may be made only at the State Convention held in the year of the election for which the nominations are made.

III. Exclusions from Eligibility for Nomination to Public and Party Office

  1. No Convention or Executive Committee of the Party may nominate or endorse any candidate for public office who shall appear on a partisan election ballot either as an independent or as the nominee of another party.
  2. 2. No person may be the nominee of the Party for any public or Party office who:
    1. Is ineligible to serve in that office; or
    2. Has not expressed a willingness to accept the nomination of the Party.

IV. Declining to Nominate or Elect Candidate for Office

  1. A Convention, for any reason, may decline to nominate or elect any or all candidates for public office or Party office.

V. Majority Required

  1. The vote of a majority of the qualified participants voting at the relevant Convention or district caucus shall be necessary and sufficient for election to public or Party office.

VI. Right to Not Elect Candidates

  1. Qualified participants shall have the right to cast a vote against each candidate seeking Party or public office, and to not elect any person for a Party or public office.
  2. Votes cast against a candidate or for “None of the Above” in voting for a Party or public office shall be considered valid and properly recorded.

Article XVII: Balloting for Candidates for Public and Party Office

I. Single Seat Balloting Procedures

  1. The method for voting by ballot shall be Approval Voting.
  2. Each ballot shall contain the full list of all nominees. Each qualified participant shall have the option to vote “for” or “against” each nominee.
  3. Total votes “for” and “against” a nominee shall be recorded along with the number of ballots cast.
  4. No nominee is eligible without receiving the majority of “for” votes of ballots cast for that election.
  5. The eligible nominee receiving the plurality of “for” votes is the winner. If multiple eligible nominees have an equal number of “for” votes, the nominee with the fewest “against” votes is the winner. If multiple eligible nominees have an equal number of “for” votes and “against” votes then the body may choose how to decide the election between the tied nominees.
  6. In voting on the nomination of candidates for Public Office, the offices shall be considered in the reverse of the order in which they appear on the general election ballot.
  7. The qualified participants of the convention may decide by two-thirds (2/3) vote to use whatever balloting method they prefer to elect candidates for Public or Party Offices as long as the ability to vote “against” each nominee is included.

II. Multiple Seat Balloting Procedures

  1. The method for voting by multi-seat ballot shall be Approval Voting.
  2. Each ballot shall contain the full list of all nominees. Each delegate shall have the option to vote “for” or “against” each nominee.
  3. All votes “for” and “against” a nominee shall be recorded along with the number of ballots cast.
  4. No nominee is eligible without receiving the majority of “for” votes of ballots cast for that election.
  5. All nominees that obtain more “for” votes than “against” votes are eligible nominees. Eligible nominees will be ranked in order of highest “for” count to lowest “for” count. In the case of a tie for votes, the higher preference shall be the eligible nominee with fewer “against” votes. If a tie occurs when eligible nominees have the same “for” and “against” votes, then the body may choose how to decide the election between the tied nominees.
  6. Nominees will be seated in ranked order until all seats are filled or until there are no longer eligible nominees.
  7. If all positions are not filled, the body may, by majority vote, open nominations to fill more positions.
  8. The delegates of the convention may decide by two-thirds (2/3) vote to use whatever balloting method they prefer to elect candidates as long as the ability to vote against each nominee is included.

III. News Media Right to Attend

  1. Representatives of the news media shall have the right to attend all Conventions for the purpose of reporting the proceedings.

Article XVIII: Adoption, Status, Amendment, and Publication of Rules

I. Effective Date of Original Rules

  1. In accordance with TEXAS ELECTION CODE Sec. 163.004 (2), these Rules are hereby adopted by the State Party.Org Executive Committee (SPOEC).
  2. In accordance with TEXAS ELECTION CODE Sec. 163.004 (2)(b), all Rules contained herein that are expressly required or authorized by statute to be adopted by the State Party.Org Executive Committee (SPOEC) are permanent.
  3. In accordance with TEXAS ELECTION CODE Sec. 163.004 (2)(a), all Rules contained herein that are not expressly required or authorized by statute to be adopted by the State Party.Org Executive Committee (SPOEC) are temporary, and shall be duly considered by the first state convention following the adoption of these Rules.
  4. Notwithstanding duly considered Amendments to these Rules in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and these Rules, these Rules shall be permanently effective upon the final adjournment of the subsequent State Convention at which they are adopted.

II. Permanent Amendments

  1. These Rules may be permanently amended, altered, or repealed by a majority vote of a State Convention.

III. Temporary Amendments

  1. Before any State Convention, these bylaws may be temporarily amended for good cause by a majority vote of the entire membership of the SPOEC, provided:
    1. Each member of the SPOEC shall receive written notice including the full text of any proposed amendment at least two (2) weeks prior to any meeting held to consider temporary amendments to the Rules; or
    2. If the vote on the proposal is by mail ballot then the ballot shall contain the full text of any proposed amendment.
  2. On subjects not covered by these bylaws, the State Chair may specify an amendment to take effect at the adjournment of the next meeting of the SPOEC if the amendment is approved by a majority vote of the entire membership of the SPOEC. This temporary amendment, once approved, is treated as a temporary amendment as described in this section.
  3. All such temporary amendments shall remain in effect only until the final adjournment of the next State Convention after their adoption, and they must be presented to that Convention for approval in the form of proposed amendments to the Rules.

IV. Effective Date of Permanent Amendments

  1. Permanent amendments to these Rules shall become effective upon the final adjournment of the State Convention at which they are adopted except that rules pertaining to the handling or selection of candidates and nominees for public office shall take effect in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
  2. A State Convention, by majority vote, may make any permanent amendments effective immediately upon adoption.

V. Permanence and Superiority of Rules

  1. Superiority
    1. These bylaws, as established by the SPOEC and permanently amended by State Conventions, shall constitute the permanent and continuing bylaws of the Party.Org Party of Texas, wholly superseding, nullifying, and rescinding all previous bylaws, rules, Constitutions, and resolutions.
    2. The Bylaws of SPOEC shall be permanent and continuing.
    3. The SPOEC may establish a permanent and continuing set of policies that govern Party organization and procedures. These policies shall be created, maintained, or dissolved by the SPOEC. No policies may supersede these bylaws. Any policies found to contradict or conflict with these bylaws are void.
  2. Permanence
    1. These Rules shall continue in force until rescinded or permanently changed by action of a State Convention or as temporarily amended by the SPOEC as provided herein.

VI. Publication of Rules and Amendments

  1. County Chairs shall be notified of amendments to these rules (whether permanent or temporary) within thirty days following the adoption of such amendments.
  2. The SPOEC shall have copies of these Rules made and shall furnish such copies to any person on request, provided, however, that persons to whom copies of the Rules are furnished may be required to pay the expenses incurred in making and mailing their copies.
  3. The State Chair shall ensure that updated rules are sent to the Texas Secretary of State for review within thirty (30) days following the adoption of any temporary or permanent amendments.
  4. These rules shall be published on the Party website, located at https://www.Party.Org/Texas.

Article IXX: Certification

It is hereby certified that this is a true and correct copy of the rules of the Party.Org Party of Texas currently in effect as adopted and established by the State Party.Org Executive Committee (SPOEC) on January 31, 2024.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]