Background
The Michigan Republican Congressional District 3 (D3) Bylaws mandate that State Committee members be selected with geographic representation from Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties. However, the Michigan Republican State Committee (MRSC) Bylaws, which govern all congressional district caucuses, do not impose such a requirement and grant the caucus full authority to determine its election process.
Key Conflict:
D3 Bylaws: Appear to require one male and one female State Committee member from each county (Article IV § 1d)
MRSC Bylaws: Provide for 6 State Committee members (3 men and 3 women) from the district without county-based restrictions.
Why the Proposed Rules Differ:
- Caucus Authority: Under Robert’s Rules of Order, the caucus is a self-governing body empowered to adopt its own rules for elections.
- State Law and Party Rules Supremacy: MRSC Bylaws, which apply statewide, supersede conflicting district-level rules.
- Precedent: Other districts with multiple counties elect State Committee members at-large without county restrictions.
Risk of Non-Compliance:
- A rules challenge could be brought before the State Convention Credentials Committee, which has consistently upheld MRSC Bylaws over district-level rules.
- Failure to comply with MRSC rules may lead to the caucus results being invalidated.
Conclusion:
The proposed rules for the 2025 D3 Caucus ensure compliance with MRSC Bylaws, preserve delegate voting rights, and protect the caucus from challenges or disqualification. Geographic diversity remains encouraged but must not be mandated in a manner that conflicts with state-level rules.
Recommendation:
Adopt the proposed rules to safeguard the integrity and validity of our election process.
Proposed Rules
1. Authority and Governance:
These rules are adopted by the District 3 caucus, which is a self-governing body under Robert’s Rules of Order. They supersede any conflicting provisions in the District 3 Bylaws for the 2025 caucus.
2. Purpose:
To govern the conduct of the District 3 caucus, including elections for District Officers, Executive Committee Members, and State Committee Members.
3. Elections Overview:
- Positions to be elected: District Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, 15 Executive Committee Members, 3 State Committeemen, and 3 State Committeewomen.
- All elections will be conducted via secret ballot, with results announced immediately.
4. Executive Committee Apportionment:
Following the District 3 Bylaws (Article IV § 1d) and the principle of representation by population, the 15 Executive Committee positions will be apportioned as follows:
- Kent County: 10 seats
- Muskegon County: 2 seats
- Ottawa County: 3 seats
5. Nomination Process:
- Self-nominations or nominations from the floor are permitted.
- Candidates will have up to 60 seconds for an introductory speech.
- Uncontested positions may be elected by unanimous consent.
6. Voting Procedures:
- District Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary): Majority vote required. Top-two runoff if necessary.
- Executive Committee Members: Elected based on the apportioned seats for each county. (Top pluralities per county will win.)
- State Committeemen and Committeewomen: Top 3 vote-getters in each category, no county-based restriction.
- Ties for any position will be resolved by a runoff.
7. Credentialing and Voting Security:
- Only credentialed delegates may vote.
- Ballots will be distributed to and collected from credentialed delegates only.
- Ballot counting will be conducted by appointed tellers from different counties.
8. Caucus Procedures:
- Motions from the floor will be handled under Robert’s Rules.
- Amendments to these rules require a two-thirds vote.
9. Certification of Results:
The results will be certified immediately and reported to the Michigan Republican State Committee.