2021-07-27 Davidson County Republican Party Rules
2021-07-27 Davidson County Republican Party Rules
2021-07-27 Davidson County Republican Party Rules
2
3
4 There are circumstances that are addressed by the rules of the Tennessee
5 Republican Party that any one of which may not normally be encountered by the
6 DCRP; therefore, the DCRP has not established a specific rule for that
7 circumstance. However, this circumstance may come before the DCRP executive
8 committee for action. Thus, for that circumstance, where the DCRP has not
9 established a rule for themselves, the DCRP is acquiescent and defers to the rules
10 of the Tennessee Republican Party.
11
12
13 RULE A
14
15 REPRESENTATION ON REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
16
17 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
18 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
19
20
21 RULE B
22
23 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
24
25 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
26 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
27
28
29 RULE C
30
31 ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
32 CONVENTION
33
34 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
35 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
DCRP Rules, 1
1 RULE D
2
3 BIENNIAL COUNTY REORGANIZATION
4
5 This Rule shall govern the procedure for biennial County Party Reorganization of
6 the Davidson County Republican Party.
7
8 Part I — General
9
10 Section 1. Notification of Caucus Date. The DCRP shall notify the State
11 Party at least 30 days in advance of its caucus and convention held for the purpose
12 of reorganizing.
13
14 Section 2. Time for Re-Organization. The DCRP shall reorganize itself
15 between January 1 and March 31 of each odd-numbered year in a Council-manic
16 delegated convention (County Convention) as defined in the State Party Rule E.
17
18 Section 3. Method of Calling Meeting; Quorum. On or before January 1
19 of each odd numbered year, the Chairman shall call a meeting, for the purposes
20 outlined in Section 4 herein, of the Executive Committee, by written notice sent at
21 least 15 days before such meeting. Such meeting shall take place on or before
22 February 1 of each odd numbered year. At such meeting, the members of the
23 Executive Committee who are present shall constitute a quorum. If the Chairman
24 fails to call the meeting, the Chairman of the State Party shall appoint a temporary
25 County Chairman to carry out the procedures for reorganizing the DCRP. Such
26 meeting shall fix the time, date and places for the Council- manic District Caucus
27 (District Caucus) and for the County Convention.
28
29 Section 4. Parliamentarian and Contest and Credentials Committee. At the
30 meeting described in Section 3 above, the Chairman shall appoint, with the
31 approval of the Officers and Executive Committee members present, a
32 Parliamentarian and a Contest and Credentials Committee for the County
33 Convention. The Contest and Credentials Committee shall consist of five (5)
34 members from five separate council districts within the County.
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DCRP Rules, 2
1 The duties of the Contest and Credentials shall include the following:
2
3 A. It shall prepare instructions for holding the District Caucuses, if
4 applicable, including the proper number of Delegates to be chosen by
5 each Council District. The number of Delegates to be elected from
6 each Council-manic District shall be determined from the official
7 voting records of the last Presidential General Election, and shall be
8 certified in writing and delivered to the existing District Chairman, or
9 person serving in his stead as described in Part II, Section 3A below,
10 along with the ballots for the election of District Officers and
11 Delegates, and certification forms to be used for the District Caucus
12 proceedings.
13
14 B It shall prepare ballots for the election of the District Officers and
15 Delegates, certification forms for reporting the results of the elections
16 in the District Caucuses, a form for affirmation of Republican
17 allegiance (the form of which is attached to the DCRP By-Laws as
18 Rule C), and any other forms deemed necessary or appropriate for use
19 in the reorganization of the DCRP.
20
21 C It shall meet after the District Caucus and before the County
22 Convention, and review the certifications received from each newly
23 elected District Chairman, and take such other actions as are specified
24 in Part II, Section 6 below.
25
26 D It shall hear and determine any contests of elections at District
27 Caucuses, subject to appeal to the County Convention as a whole, in
28 the manner set forth below.
29
30 E Meetings of the Contest and Credentials Committee shall be open to
31 the public.
32 Part II — District Caucuses
33
34 Section 1. Notice; Content; Contest Deadline. At least ten (10) days
35 before the District Caucuses, the Chairman shall submit the County Party’s
DCRP Rules, 3
1 reorganizational details to the TRP for display on its website. Additionally, any
2 websites and social media accounts ran by the DCRP must advertise the Caucus
3 and Convention details. The required details are the date, time and location of the
4 reorganization caucuses and conventions; the contact phone number and/or email
5 address of the County Chairman, the Contest and Credentials Chairman and, if
6 applicable, the Convention Chairman. Convention announcement details must also
7 state that any bona fide Republican interested in running for County Chairman
8 must submit their names and complete contact information to the Contest and
9 Credentials Committee Chairman at least seven (7) calendar days before the
10 Convention. Names received by the Contest and Credentials Chairman less than
11 seven (7) calendar days prior to the Convention will not be considered for the
12 position. It will also be published that to avoid unnecessary delay, each attendee is
13 strongly encouraged to present their voter registration cards for confirmation at the
14 district assembly point, as this will expedite the process of confirming delegates.
15 The District Caucus of the Districts in each Region may be held together. More
16 than one District shall be permitted to meet at the same place. Such advertisement
17 shall specify the deadline for filing contests as to the results of any District Caucus.
18
19 Section 2. Purpose. On the date and at the time and place(s) specified, a
20 District Caucus shall be held for each District within Davidson County. The
21 purpose of such Caucuses shall be the election of Delegates from such District to
22 the County Convention, as well as the election of a District Chairman and such
23 other Officers as may be desired, and the transaction of such other business as may
24 be appropriate.
25
26 Section 3. Order of Business. The order of business for the District Caucuses
27 shall be as follows:
28
29 A The then-existing District Chairman shall convene the meeting. If he
30 is unable to be present, the Regional Vice-Chairman may designate a
31 temporary Chairman to act in his place and stead. If there is no
32 functioning Regional Vice-Chairman, the County Chairman shall
33 designate a temporary Chairman.
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DCRP Rules, 4
1 B The next order of business shall be the resolution of any challenge to a
2 citizen's right to vote and participate in the District Caucus. Any
3 Republican citizen who is duly registered to vote in, and resides in, a
4 precinct in the District shall be entitled to vote and participate in the
5 District caucus. Identification and voting registration will be verified
6 at each table by a Contest and Credentials committee member. An
7 envelope will be placed at each table with instructions for the caucus
8 procedures. A Chairman, delegates and alternates will be elected by
9 each district in keeping with their allotted numbers. Any citizen
10 whose loyalty to the Republican Party is questioned may be
11 challenged by any other citizen present and qualified to participate.
12 The challenged citizen shall be entitled to vote and participate in the
13 Caucus upon his public and written affirmation of his allegiance to the
14 Republican Party on the form duly furnished by the County Chairman
15 or the Contest and Credentials Committee as set forth on Rule C to the
16 DCRP By-Laws. If a citizen’s residence or registration to vote in the
17 District is challenged, he shall vote on a paper ballot which shall be
18 counted, marked and set aside. If such citizen is determined not to be
19 duly registered to vote in said District, and not to be a resident thereof,
20 his vote and participation shall be null and void.
21
22 C The next order of business shall be that the Chairman of the meeting
23 may designate an adequate number of Tellers, who shall assist in
24 distributing, collecting, and counting ballots, and shall perform such
25 other tasks as are assigned by the Chairman of the meeting. The
26 Chairman shall preside over the voting process.
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28 D The next order of business shall be the election of a new District
29 Chairman and other Officers as mentioned above. District Officers
30 shall be elected by a majority vote of the qualified citizens present and
31 voting. Runoffs shall be held, if necessary to determine a majority.
32 The newly elected District Chairman shall, upon his election, assume
33 the chair from the adjournment of the present District Caucus until the
34 adjournment of the following District Caucus.
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DCRP Rules, 5
1 E The next order of business shall be the election of the District's
2 Delegates to the County Convention. The total Republican vote in the
3 last Presidential general election shall be the basis on which shall be
4 determined the number of Delegates to be elected. The District shall
5 be entitled to one (1) Delegate for each 200 Republican votes (or
6 majority thereof) in that District. Fractional Delegates shall not be
7 permitted. No proxies shall be permitted. The floor shall be opened
8 for nominations for Delegates. The Contest and Credentials
9 Committee shall oversee the voting. The total vote for each candidate
10 for Delegate shall be recorded. Delegates in the number allotted to
11 such District shall be elected in order of the highest total vote
12 received. In case of a tie vote, all names involved in the tie shall be
13 used in consecutive Delegate positions. A runoff shall be used if
14 necessary to fill the last Delegate position. All Delegates must be
15 Republicans duly registered to vote in, and residing in, the district at
16 the time of the County Convention. Alternate Delegates shall also be
17 elected, in a number up to the number of Delegates elected.
18 Candidates for Delegate who did not receive sufficient votes to be
19 elected Delegate shall become Alternates, in descending order of the
20 number of votes cast for each person. In case of a tie, the method
21 described hereinabove shall be used for electing Alternates.
22
23 F The District Caucus shall then proceed to such other business as may
24 be appropriate.
25
26 Section 4. Failure to Hold a Caucus. If any District fails to hold a Caucus,
27 or fails to elect Delegates at such Caucus, then promptly after the District Caucus,
28 the County Chairman shall appoint a District Chairman and other District Officers
29 and committee members from qualified Republicans who reside and are registered
30 to vote in such District, to serve until the adjournment of the next subsequent
31 District Caucus. The County Chairman shall not, however, appoint Delegates to
32 the County Convention.
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34 Section 5. Certification of Election Results of Delegates; Ballot Retention.
35 Within three (3) calendar days after the District Caucus, the newly elected District
DCRP Rules, 6
1 Chairman shall certify the results of the election of District Delegates to the
2 County Chairman and the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee, on
3 forms prescribed and furnished by the Contest and Credentials Committee. The
4 newly elected District Chairman shall also furnish a list of the names and addresses
5 of the citizens who voted and participated in the District Caucus. The names and
6 addresses of Delegates to the County Convention shall be available to the public.
7 The ballots cast in the District Caucus shall be preserved by the District Chairman
8 until after the County Convention. If the results of the election are timely
9 contested, or the certification is rejected by the Contest and Credentials
10 Committee, the ballots shall be promptly delivered to the Chairman of that
11 Committee, to be preserved until any possible contest has been finally resolved, or
12 the time for filing any further contest has expired.
13
14 Section 6. Review of Certifications. Within seven (7) calendar days after
15 the District Caucus, the Contest and Credentials Committee shall meet and review
16 all certifications made pursuant to Section 5 above. If it rejects any certification,
17 the Chairman of the Committee shall, within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter,
18 notify in writing any Delegate whose credentials have been rejected, specifying the
19 time and place at which any contest of such rejection shall be heard.
20
21 Section 7. Contest. Any delegate whose status as such is to be contested
22 must be reported to the Contest and Credentials Committee within four (4)
23 calendar days of the conclusion of the District Caucus. If there is a contest of any
24 election at a District Caucus, the Contest and Credentials Committee shall hear and
25 resolve the same. Any citizen participating in any District Caucus may contest the
26 results by filing with the Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee at
27 the address specified in the newspaper advertisement of the District Caucus, a
28 written notice of contest, stating the specific legal and factual grounds for such
29 contest. Such notice of contest shall be filed within four (4) calendar days after the
30 District Caucus. At the meeting held pursuant to the foregoing Section, the
31 Contest and Credentials Committee shall fix the time and place for hearing all
32 contests filed pursuant to this Section; and the Chairman shall notify the
33 contestants and the contested Delegates of the time and place for hearing such
34 contests. Contestants may be represented by counsel at such contest hearings. The
35 Committee or any contestant may cause a record to be made of such hearing.
DCRP Rules, 7
1 However, the rules of evidence and procedure which would be applicable in a
2 court of law or equity shall not be applicable in such a hearing, and any ruling
3 made shall not be appealable to any court. All contests shall be heard and decided
4 at least twenty-four (24) hours before the County Convention. The determination
5 of the Contest and Credentials Committee may be appealed to the County
6 Convention as a whole, in the manner provided elsewhere herein.
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8
9 Part III — County Conventions
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11 Section 1. Time and Place. At the time, date and place specified, the County
12 Convention shall meet to reorganize the DCRP.
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14 Section 2. Order of Business. The order of business at the County
15 Convention shall be as follows:
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17 A. The County Chairman shall convene the Convention. If he is unable
18 to be present, the First Vice-Chairman or, in his absence, the Second Vice-
19 Chairman, shall preside. If there is no Vice-Chairman, the County Chairman
20 may designate in writing a temporary Chairman to act in his place and stead.
21 If there is no functioning County Chairman or Vice Chairman, the Chairman
22 of the State Party may designate in writing a temporary Chairman of the
23 Convention.
24
25 B. The following procedure shall apply:
26
27 i. Only Delegates (including Alternates, if applicable) certified by
28 the Contest and Credentials Committee shall be allowed on the
29 floor of the County Convention.
30
31 ii. The report of the Contest and Credentials Committee shall be read,
32 and the Secretary shall call the roll of Districts to determine if a
33 quorum is present. The presence of Delegates from twelve (12) or
34 more, (one-third (1/3)), of the districts shall constitute a quorum.
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DCRP Rules, 8
1 iii. The County Convention shall then proceed to hear and determine
2 any appeals from actions of the Contest and Credentials
3 Committee. Contestants shall be entitled to appear on the floor and
4 present their appeals. The contests shall be heard in the numbered
5 order of Districts, and, within Districts, in alphabetical order. Each
6 contest shall be determined by a majority vote of the Delegates
7 voting in the manner heretofore prescribed. The certified
8 Delegates whose seats are in question shall not be entitled to vote,
9 but all other Delegates, including those whose seats may be the
10 subject of a later contest, may vote on such contest. If any contest
11 Delegate is seated by the Convention, such Delegate shall
12 immediately take his place in the Convention and shall be entitled
13 to full participation thereafter.
14
15 iv. Nominating speeches, if any, shall be limited to one minute each,
16 and the Chairman shall call a halt to any that exceed the allotted
17 time. Likewise, election speeches are to be limited to three
18 minutes for the position of Chairman and two minutes for all
19 others. For the position of Communications Secretary, Recording
20 Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice- Treasurer, nominating speeches
21 shall be limited to thirty seconds, and each candidate shall have
22 one minute for an election speech. For the Regional Vice-
23 Chairmen there will no nominating speeches, and two minutes for
24 an election speech. The Chairman shall also call a halt to any
25 election speeches that exceed the allotted time. Campaign material
26 is to be limited to candidates standing for election at the
27 convention. There shall be no comment from the floor after
28 nominations are closed, and there will be no time allotted for
29 formal rebuttals.
30
31 v. On any divided vote, a roll call may be requested by any Delegate.
32 The roll call shall be called by District3 in numerical order. Each
33 District shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each Delegate present
34 and voting. Use of the Unit Rule shall not be permitted.
1 3
See Rules and Regulations of the State Party, Rule E
DCRP Rules, 9
1
2 C. The next order of business shall be the election of a new County
3 Chairman. The Contest and Credentials Committee shall place the eligible
4 candidates into nomination whose names they received seven (7) calendar
5 days before the Convention; no nomination for Chairman shall come from
6 the floor. The election shall be determined by a majority of votes cast.
7
8 Should no candidate receive a majority of the votes cast on the initial or any
9 subsequent ballot there shall be subsequent run-off elections between the
10 two eligible candidates receiving the highest number of votes until a
11 plurality of votes is reached. Paper ballots issued and controlled by the
12 Chairman of the Contest and Credentials Committee, or voting machines
13 issued and controlled by the Davidson County Election Commission shall be
14 used for all elections. The first ballot shall be for the position of Chairman
15 only. The newly elected County Chairman shall assume the chair at the
16 adjournment of the present County Convention.
17
18 D. The meeting shall then proceed to the election of other Officers and
19 Leadership of the DCRP, including a First Vice-Chairman, a Second Vice-
20 Chairman, a Communications Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer,
21 a Vice-Treasurer, and Regional Vice-Chairmen. The second ballot shall be
22 for the position of First Vice-Chairman and Second Vice-Chairman only. A
23 third ballot will be for all other remaining offices. If paper ballots are used,
24 each of the ballots shall be of a differing color. Each of the seven Regional
25 Vice-Chairmen shall be a resident of and a registered voter in a different
26 Region of Davidson County, and elected by the delegates of that Region, as
27 defined in Article 2, Section 9 of the Davidson County By-Laws.
28
29 E. At least two (2) Clerks appointed by the Chairman of the Contest and
30 Credentials Committee shall tally the votes and perform such other functions
31 as are assigned by the Chairman of the meeting. The Contest and
32 Credentials Committee shall oversee the voting.
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DCRP Rules, 10
1 F. The County Convention shall then proceed to such other business as
2 may have been included in the Call of the meeting, and such other business
3 as it deems appropriate.
4
5 G. Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws and Rules of the TRP or
6 the DCRP, the County Convention shall be conducted in compliance with
7 the most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order - Newly Revised.
8
9
10 Part IV — Certification of County Executive Committee
11
12 Section 1. Certification: Within ten (l0) calendar days after the County
13 Party reorganization, the newly elected Chairman and Recording Secretary shall
14 certify in writing to the State Chairman the following:
15
16 1. The names and addresses of all members of the newly elected County
17 Executive Committee; and
18
19 2. The names and addresses of the newly elected Officers of the DCRP;
20 and
21
22 3. The names and addresses of all Delegates participating in the
23 Convention.
24
25 Section 2. Oath: Within ten (10) calendar days following the certification
26 of the results of the County Reorganization, the County Chairman shall ensure the
27 Officers are sworn to a commitment to perform the duties of their position to the
28 best of their ability, as defined by these Bylaws. The Oath to be administered is
29 attached to the DCRP Rules as Rule L. This ceremony can be conducted by any
30 Republican County constitutional officer, by an SEC member representing that
31 Senatorial District, or by the State Party Chairman or his designee.
32
33 Section 3. Confirmation: In addition, the County Chairman shall confirm
34 in writing to the State Chairman, under oath, a pledge to uphold and enforce all
35 Bylaws of the State Party.
DCRP Rules, 11
1 RULE E
2
3 CONTESTS OF RESULTS OF COUNTY REORGANIZATIONS
4
5 Section 1. Contest of Results: If any qualified Republican seeking to be
6 elected to County Party office or in attendance at the County Convention should
7 desire to contest the results of the elections at such Convention, a contest is
8 deemed to exist. A contestant shall file a Notice of Contest with the State
9 Chairman no later than five (5) calendar days after the filing of the certifications
10 required in Rule A, Part IV hereinabove, and shall simultaneously serve a copy of
11 such Notice on the County Chairman, all other County Officers, and all contestees
12 affected by such contest. Such Notice of Contest shall state with particularity the
13 factual and legal basis for such contest. Contests of results of a County Party
14 Reorganization shall be deemed to exist under circumstances set forth in Rule F of
15 the State Party By-laws, as it may be amended or replaced from time to time. Such
16 contests shall be resolved or adjudicated in the manner set forth therein.
17
18 Section 2. Memorandum of Support: Within ten (10) calendar days after
19 filing such Notice of Contest, the contestant shall file with the State Chairman a
20 memorandum or brief supporting the contest. Such memorandum or brief in
21 support shall include any supporting affidavits, correspondence, or other
22 documents to be relied upon as evidence. A copy of the memorandum or brief
23 shall be served on the same parties listed in Section 1 above, and on their counsel,
24 if any have appeared.
25
26 Section 3. Memorandum of Response: Within seven (7) calendar days of
27 the filing of the Memorandum of Support as outlined in Section 2 above, the
28 contestee or contestees may file with the State Chairman a response and any
29 supporting memorandum or brief that they deem appropriate and shall serve a copy
30 thereof on the contestant and all parties listed in Section 1 above and on their
31 counsel, if any. Such memorandum or brief in response shall include any
32 supporting affidavits, correspondence, or other documents to be relied upon as
33 evidence.
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DCRP Rules, 12
1 RULE F
2
3 REMOVAL OF COUNTY OFFICERS
4
5 Removal of Davidson County Republican Party Officers is addressed in Article II,
6 Section 5 of the DCRP’s Bylaws. Should there be any circumstances where
7 deficiencies or inconsistencies exist therein Rule F of the TRP Rules shall apply
8 for those circumstances.
9
10
11 RULE G
12
13 LOCAL CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS
14
15 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
16 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
17
18
19 RULE H
20
21 JUDICIAL CANDIDATES
22
23 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
24 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
25
26
27 RULE I
28
29 BREAKING TIE VOTES IN CONTESTED REPUBLICAN
30 PRIMARY ELECTION
31
32 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
33 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
34
35
DCRP Rules, 13
1 RULE J
2
3 CONTEST OF A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION
4
5 The Davidson County Republican Party is acquiescent on this matter and defers to
6 the Tennessee Republican Party’s Rules.
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DCRP Rules, 14
1 RULE K
2
3 Davidson County Republican Party
4 Oath of Allegiance
5
6
7 I, _____________________________, of ________________________________
8 Please print full name please print address
9 __________________________________________________________________
10 City State Zip Code
11 Do solemnly affirm that I voluntarily of my own free will wish to affiliate with the
12 Republican Party and will support the goals, missions, and objectives of the
13 Davidson County Republican Party. I pledge I will work together with and uphold
14 the by-laws of the National, State, and County Republican Parties. I also affirm
15 that I reside at the above indicated address in District ___________, Precinct
16 _____________ of Davidson County, Tennessee; and that I am duly and properly
17 registered with the Davidson County Election Commission to vote in said District
18 and Precinct.
22 E-mail: ___________________________________________________________
23 _____________________________ ______________________________
24 Signature Date
25 Witnesses: __________________________________
26 __________________________________
DCRP Rules, 15
RULE L
DCRP Rules, 16
1 RULE M
2
3 Davidson County Republican Party
4 County Executive Committee
5
6 Proxy
7
8
9 I, _____________________________________ do hereby constitute and appoint
10 PRINTED NAME OF PERSON GRANTING THE PROXY (GRANTOR)
11
12 _______________________________________ as my proxy to attend the County
13 PRINTED NAME OF INDIVIDUAL HOLDING THE PROXY
16 full powers to vote and act for me in my name, place, and stead, in the same
17 manner, to the extent and with the same effect that I might were I personally
18 present there.
19
20
21 _______________________________
22 PRINTED NAME OF GRANTOR
23
24
25 _______________________________
26 SIGNATURE
27
28
29 _______________________________
30 DATE
31
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DCRP Rules, 17
1 Final Draft
2 Approved: February 22, 2011
3 Amended: August 27, 2013
4 Amended: August 09, 2017
5 Amended: September 7, 2017
6 Amended: September 13, 2018
7 Amended: February 28, 2021
8 Amended: July 27, 2021
9
10
11 ATTEST:
12
13 I hereby certify that these Rules were adopted by the Davidson County Republican
14 Party’s Executive Committee at its regularly scheduled meeting on July 27, 2021.
15
16 I hereby further certify these Rules, amended on July 27, 2021, were submitted to
17 the TRP Rules and Bylaws Subcommittee concurrent with the submission of
18 DCRP Bylaws amended on July 27, 2021.
19
20
21
22 Signed: ____/S/ James B. Garrett_________
23 James B. Garrett
24 Chairman, By-Laws Committee
25
26
27 I hereby further certify these Rules were approved by the Tennessee Republican
28 Party as certified by their letter dated October 6, 2022.
29
30 Signed: ____/S/ James B. Garrett_________
31 James B. Garrett
32 Chairman, By-Laws Committee
33
34 JBG072521
DCRP Rules, 18