RULES, POLICES, AND PRINCIPLES
OF
REPUBLICAN
PARTY
OF THE
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
ARTICLE I. NAME
Sec. 1. The official name of this political party shall be
The REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS.
Sec. 2. The Territorial Committee of the Republican Party
of the United States Virgin Islands shall consist of the following organizations:
(a) The St. Thomas-St. John Water Island Branch of the Republican Party of
the United States Virgin Islands
(b) The St. Croix Branch of the Republican
Party of the United States Virgin Islands.
(c) The Virgin Islands Republican Women, and such other organizations
as authorized and approved by the Territorial Committee of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands.
Sec. 3.
No other political entity, body, branch or party shall be a part of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin
Islands without the express permission of the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLE II. PRINCIPLES, OBJECTS AND PURPOSES.
Sec. 1.
The principles and policies of this political party are synonymous and consonant with the principles and polices of
the Republican Party of the United
States, particularly
as they shall apply to the United States Virgin Islands.
Sec. 2.
The objects and purposes of this political party are to foster, encourage and maintain these principles and policies
in the United States Virgin Islands and to promote activities directed toward their fulfillment.
ARTICLES III. PARTY MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1.
Membership in the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands shall be by official registration in the Republican
Party as prescribed in Title 18, Election Code of the United States Virgin Islands.
Sec. 2.
Any Republican elector in the United States Virgin Islands shall be entitled to be elected or serve as a party officer,
or as a member or officer of any party committee of this political party.
Sec. 3.
Membership in this political party or the right to vote for National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, State Chairman,
Members of the Territorial Committee and party candidates for public office shall not be conditioned upon the payment of dues.
Sec. 4.
Auxiliary and Participating Members - In addition to enrolled membership, there shall be Auxiliary Members and Participating
Members of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands. Auxiliary and Participating Members will not be entitled
to vote in the Territorial Committee, however, such members may be appointed to and have voting rights in sub-committees of
the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLES IV. TERRITORIAL COMMITTEE
Sec. 1
Elected Membership The Territorial Committee of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands shall
consist of persons who have been elected at party primaries as State Chairman, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman
and thirty (30) members elected at large or by district as provided for in 18 V.I.C. Section 303. The State Chairman and Members
of the Territorial Committee of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands shall be elected at the primary election,
to serve for two (2) years. The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall be elected at the primary election
which falls in a United
States presidential election
year, to serve from the adjournment of the quadrennial Republican National Convention until the adjournment of the following
quadrennial Republican National Convention.
Sec.2.
Ex-officio Membership - Voting The following persons shall be ex-officio members of the Territorial Committee
while they serve as elected Republican candidates in the following public offices:
Governor
Lieutenant
Governor
Delegate to
Congress
Members of
the Legislature
Board of Election
& Education
These ex-officio members of the Territorial Committee shall
exercise all rights of membership, including the right to vote.
Sec 3.
Ex-Officio Membership- Non-Voting The following persons shall be ex-officio members of the Territorial Committee
with all rights of membership except the right to vote:
(a) Titular Heads of the Republican Party that is, the last Republican candidates
for Governor / Lieutenant Governor at a general election.
(b) Republican candidates at the last general election for Delegate to Congress and the
Legislature
(c) The presiding officers of the St. Thomas / St. John / Water Island the St. Croix Branch the Republican Women and any other
Republican Organization recognized by the Territorial Committee selected by the State Chairman.
(d) The Executive Director and Legal Counsel
Section
IV
The Territorial Committee of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands shall make such rules for governance
of the Party in the Territory that are not inconsistent with law, as it may deem expedient. No such rules shall be effective
until a certified copy thereof has been filed in the office of the Supervisor of Elections. Title 18 V.I.C. 304(a).
Section
V The
organizational meeting of each Territorial Committee shall take place as required by law following a primary at the hour and
place designated by the State Chairman.
Section
VI At each organizational
meeting of the Territorial Committee the following officers shall be elected by majority vote of members present:
(a) 1st Vice President
(b) 2nd Vice President
(c) Secretary
(d) Treasurer
Section
VII Vacancies shall
be filled by the State Chairman, ratified by the Territorial Committee with notification thereof given in accordance law.
ARTICLE V. MEETING
Sec. 1. At least four (4) regular meetings of the Territorial
Committee shall be held every year at the call of the Chairman. A meeting may also be convened by members of the Territorial
Committee assembling at a location in each district linked by telecommunication resource or facilities.
Sec. 2. A special meeting may be called by the Chairman at
his discretion or when demanded by a majority of the members of the Territorial Committee by a petition in writing.
Sec. 3. The Chairman, three (3) days prior to any regular
meetings, shall provide each member with an agenda of matters to be dealt with. The agenda of all regular meetings shall be
prepared by the Chairman and provided to each member no less that three (3) days prior to regular meetings provided the Chairman
shall include in the agenda any matter for which four (4) members from each district have requested by petition.
ARTICLE VI. REPRESENTATION.
Sec. 1. At any meeting of the Territorial Committee there
must be at least four (4) members from each District present in person or at the site linked by the telecommunications facilities
provided in Article V (1).
ARTICLE VII. PROXIES.
Sec. 1. A member of the Territorial Committee may assign
his/her vote by proxy provided that a District Member from the same District may only assign his/her proxy to a District Member
from the same District; An At-Large Member may only assign his/her proxy to another At-Large Member.
Sec. 2. A member may vote on any item on the agenda for any
meeting in person or by written proxy. A proxy may either be general or limited as directed by the proxy maker. Proxies shall
not be used to establish a quorum.
Sec. 3. The proxy holder shall vote the proxy as directed
therein and the Secretary shall file and retain same as part of the permanent records of the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLE VIII. MAJORITY VOTE.
Sec. 1. All business of the Territorial Committee at any meeting,
unless specifically indicated otherwise in these rules, shall be transacted by a majority vote of members present or represented
by written proxy. A majority for this purpose shall be one more the one-half (½) of all votes cast.
ARTICLE IX. REMOVAL OF TERRITORIAL COMMITTEE OFFICERS
Sec.1. Any officer elected by the Territorial Committee may
be removed for cause from that office, by a majority vote of the Territorial Committee. This action must be approved by no
less that sixteen (16) members of the Territorial Committee, comprised of eight (8) members from each judicial district, present
in person and voting.
ARTICLES X. DUTIES
Sec. 1. Chairman - The Chairman shall:
(a) Preside at all meetings of the Territorial Committee;
(b) Appoint all standing and special committee of the Territorial Committee;
(c) Be a member of all such committees with voting power;
(d) Have general supervision over the affairs of the Territorial Committee;
(e) Perform the duties usual to his/her office;
Sec. 2.
First Vice-Chairman - The First Vice Chairman shall:
(a) Assist the Chairman at his direction;
(b) Perform the duties if the Chairman in his absence;
(c) Assume the duties of Chairman in the absence of the Chairman
and
shall succeed to Chairmanship in the event of its vacancy.
Sec. 3.
Second Vice-Chairman - The Second Vice Chairman shall:
(a) Assist the Chairman at his direction;
(b) Assume the duties of First Vice-Chairman in the absence of the First Vice-Chairman
and shall succeed to the First Vice-Chairmanship in the event of its vacancy.
Sec. 4.
Secretary - Secretary shall:
(a) Keep a record of the proceedings of the Territorial Committee;
(b) Issue all notices and calls relative to meeting.
(c) Certify all resolutions and actions required.
(d) Maintain the permanent records of the party.
(e) Perform all duties usual to this office.
Sec. 5. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall:
(a) Collect, safeguard and disburse all funds subject to the direction of the Territorial
Committee
(b) Prepare quarterly financial statements and other financial statements as requested
by the Chairman or Territorial Committee
(c) Perform the duties usual to this office
Sec. 6. The Executive Director shall assist the Chairman
in carrying out his/her duties.
Sec. 7. Legal Counsel shall render advice and assistance
to the State Chairman and the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLE XI. PARTY FINANCES
Sec. 1.
There shall be a Finance Committee, which consists of a Chairman appointed by the State Chairman, the Treasure of the
Territorial Committee, other members appointed by the Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Sec. 2.
The Finance Committee shall coordinate and direct fund-raising activities on behalf of the Republican Party of the
United States Virgin Islands.
ARTICLE XII. PARTY CONVENTION
Sec. 1.
A party convention may be called by the State Chairman if approved by the Territorial Committee.
Sec. 2.
A party convention shall be called by the State Chairman if required by vote of the Territorial Committee.
Sec. 3.
The business to be conducted at a state convention shall be determined by the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLE XIII. DELEGATE SELECTION TO NATIONAL CONVENTION
Sec. 1.
The method of selecting delegates to the Republican National Convention shall be determined by the Territorial Committee.
ARTICLE XIV. BRANCH/REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATION RULES
Sec. 1.
Each Branch/Republican Organization shall make rules of the conduct of their business not contrary to or inconsistent
with law and The Rules, Policies and Principles of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands.
Sec. 2.
Branches/Republican Organization may engage in fund raising activities for their treasury or the treasury of the Territorial
Committee, but in no event shall a branch borrow money or incur any debt or obligation in the name of the Republican Party
of the United States Virgin Islands or Territorial Committee of the Republican Party. No Branch/Republican Organization shall
advertise in newspapers, radio, television, or other news media, or issue formal statements purporting to be the official
policy of the Territorial Committee of the Republican Party without the approval of a majority of the officers of the Territorial
Committee.
Sec. 3.
There shall be election of Branch Officers at least every two years.
ARTICLE XV. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1.
A committee within the Territorial Committee may establish subcommittees and adopt rules for the conduct of its affairs
not inconsistent with the rules contained herein.
ARTICLE XVI. MODIFICATIONS
Sec. 1.
Any provision herein shall be replaced or amended only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Territorial Committee members
attending the meeting.
Sec. 2.
Any provision herein contrary to Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code is void, without affecting other parts of the
Rules, Policies and the Principles of the Republican Party of the United States Virgin Islands.
Sec. 3.
In matter not covered by this document, Robert Rules of Order Revised, shall govern.
ADOPTED BY THE TERRITORIAL COMMITTEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. March 24, 1984
Amended April 4, 1998; Amended June 1, 2002
