RULE 1 - Chartering Process for Republican Clubs

A. Restrictions on Use of the Name, Abbreviations, and Symbols of the Republican Party

(1) No person or group of persons may use the name, abbreviations, or symbols of the Republican Party in connection with any club, group, association, or organization of any kind unless approval and permission have been given by the Republican Party of Florida in the form of a written charter issued under this Rule. This Rule does not apply to county Republican Executive Committees, to Republican Affiliated Party Committees, to organizations that are chartered by the Republican National Committee, or to organizations using the name, abbreviations, or symbols of the Republican Party that have been in existence and organized on a statewide basis for a period of ten years.

(2) No member of the State Executive Committee or of a County Executive Committee may be a member or officer of any organization that has been deemed by the RPOF Chairman to be in violation of the restrictions on use of the name, abbreviations, and symbols of the Republican Party as provided for in this Rule or section 103.081, Florida Statutes.

B. Conditional Chartering Process for New Republican Clubs

Any non-chartered club, group, association, or organization seeking a charter under this Rule may submit a conditional charter application including the written approval of a majority of the following Republican Party officials from the county or counties in which it is organized (including at least one such official in each county in which it is organized): County Chairman, State Committeeman, State Committeewoman. Applicants organized on a statewide basis need not obtain the written approval of the Republican Party officials in each county, but will instead require the approval of the Executive Board of the Republican Party of Florida. Upon the approval of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, a conditional charter will be issued to the applicant. Each conditional charter expires on March 31 of the calendar year after the year in which it is issued. A conditional charter may be revoked at any time, without notice, and for any reason in the sole discretion of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. An organization that has received a conditional charter may apply for a general charter through the general charter renewal process provided in this Rule. A conditional charter may be renewed for an additional one-year period or converted to a general charter in the sole discretion of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in consultation with the applicable County Republican Executive Committee officials.

C. Renewal and Revocation of General Charters for Existing Republican Clubs

(1) All general charters issued by the Republican Party of Florida expire on March 31 of each odd-numbered year unless renewed as provided in this Rule. On or before February 1 in each odd-numbered year, the Republican Party of Florida will send charter renewal information, requirements, and instructions to each chartered club, group, association, or organization with a copy to the applicable Republican State Executive Committee Members. On or before March 15, any club wishing to renew its charter must submit a general charter renewal application including the written approval of a majority of the following Republican Party officials from the county or counties in which it is organized (including at least one such official in each county in which it is organized): County Chairman, State Committeeman, State Committeewoman. Upon the approval of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, a new general charter will be issued to the applicant.

(2) Any club, group, association, or organization that has been chartered and in good standing for a period of ten continuous years is exempt from the renewal application process provided in subsection (C)(1) and may receive an expedited renewal of its charter upon the approval of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and one State Executive Committee member from each county in which it is so organized.

(3) The Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, in consultation with the applicable County Republican Executive Committee officials, may revoke any general charter for good cause shown. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Rule constitutes good cause for revocation of a general charter.

(4) The decision to revoke or not to renew a general charter may be appealed to the Republican Party of Florida as prescribed in this Rule. Any chartered club, group, association, or organization wishing to appeal a revocation or non-renewal of its general charter must submit a Notice identifying in detail the basis of its appeal within 90 days after it receives the decision to revoke or not to renew the charter. The Grievance Committee shall review all Notices of Appeal and may call for a response from any State Executive Committee members who supported the revocation of non-renewal of the general charter.

After considering the appeal, the Grievance Committee shall either: a) affirm the revocation or non-renewal (in which case there shall be no further appeal); or b) recommend to the Executive Board of the Republican Party that the revocation or non-renewal be overturned. After considering the Grievance Committee’s recommendation and the merits of the appeal, the Executive Board of the Republican Party of Florida may restore and renew a general charter or revert the general charter to a conditional charter. The decision of the Executive Board is final and is not subject to further appeal in any forum.

D. Restrictions on Activities by Chartered Republican Clubs

Chartered Republican clubs must conduct their affairs in compliance with applicable state and federal election and campaign finance laws. No chartered club, group, association, or organization may adopt by-laws that are inconsistent with state or federal law, the Constitution or Party Rules of Procedure of the Republican State Executive Committee, or the Republican Party of Florida County Model Constitution. No chartered club, group, association, or organization may participate in intra-party differences, nor may it, in its official capacity as a chartered organization support the nomination of one Republican candidate over another unless the Republican Party has voted to endorse that candidate under Rule 8. No chartered club, group, association, or organization may invite a non-Republican to be a guest speaker at an official meeting or function without the approval of the Chairman of the County Republican Executive Committee.