<< Back to the Main RLC 2011 Convention Page
The following Bylaws and Rules amendments are submitted by the National Board for the consideration of the delegates at the RLC National Convention on February 12, 2011.
(Stricken text indicates a deletion to the language. Underlined text indicates an addition.)
By Laws Amendments
Article III, Section 1A
Current language:
Regular membership shall be limited to individuals who are affiliated with the Republican Party (as determined by the Caucus Secretary), who have paid current minimum dues and who support the purposes of the Caucus. Regular members are qualified to serve in any official capacity in the Caucus, to act as delegates at any Convention and to enjoy all the privileges extended in these Bylaws.
Proposed amendment:
Regular membership shall be limited to individuals who are affiliated affiliate with the Republican Party (as determined by the Caucus Secretary), who have paid current minimum dues and who support the purposes of the Caucus, as defined by the Statement of Principles. Regular members are qualified to serve in any official capacity in the Caucus (assuming they also meet any other specific qualifications for the position), to act as delegates at any Convention and to enjoy all the privileges extended in these Bylaws. If a question of eligibility for Regular membership is raised with the Board, the Board shall hear evidence presented by the Secretary and make a final determination by a simple majority vote.
Article III, Section 2
Current language:
The Board of Directors shall set the minimum annual dues requirement for Regular membership in the Caucus, which shall not exceed fifty dollars. Dues shall be current until the anniversary date of the member’s previous dues payment.
Proposed amendment:
The Board of Directors shall set the minimum annual dues requirement for Regular membership in the Caucus, which shall not exceed fifty sixty dollars. Dues shall be current until the anniversary date of the member’s previous dues payment.
Article III, Section 6:
Current language:
Any membership may be suspended or revoked by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Caucus or the applicable Chartered State executive committee for just cause.
Proposed amendment:
Article III, Section 6: Article III, Section 6: Any membership may be suspended or revoked by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Caucus or the applicable Chartered State executive committee for just cause, which may include malfeasance in office, misappropriation of funds, misrepresenting the positions of the Caucus, or conduct which reflects poorly on the Caucus, which may include malfeasance in office, misappropriation of funds, misrepresenting the positions of the Caucus, or conduct which reflects poorly on the Caucus.
Article V, Section 1:
Current language:
The Officers of the Caucus shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall all be voting members of Board and subject to the provisions of the preceding Article. Candidates for Officer shall have been Regular members of the Caucus for at least one year prior to their nomination. Candidates for Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall have been Regular members for at least two years and members of the Board of Directors for at least six months prior to their nomination.
Proposed language:
The Officers of the Caucus shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall all be voting members of Board and subject to the provisions of the preceding Article. Candidates for Officer shall have been Regular members of the Caucus for at least one year prior to their nomination. Candidates for Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall have been Regular members for at least two years and a voting or alternate member of the Board of Directors for at least six months prior to their nomination.
Rules Amendments
Rule 4C
Current language:
The standard dues collected for Regular membership shall be $30 for both Caucus and Chartered State membership, of which $10 shall be transferred to the other entity as the dues share for that member;
Proposed language:
The standard dues collected for Regular membership shall be $30 $45 for both Caucus and Chartered State membership, of which $10 $15 shall be transferred to the other entity as the dues share for that member;
Statement of Principles Amendments
Bill of Rights
Current language:
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution enumerate, but do not limit, the natural rights of every individual. These rights are intended to limit government action beyond the specified powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8 and should be broadly construed to recognize privacy and liberty rights expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
We oppose all restrictions on free and honest expression, most critically those that infringe on political discourse. We oppose any public financing of campaigns or public political forums and any law that allows organizations to collect campaign donations against the wishes of their individual members.
We support the original intent of an individual right to keep and bear arms.
We support the right of people to be secure in their persons and property and oppose any use of eminent domain except for essential government functions. We support initiatives in defense of medical, racial and banking privacy.
We support equal protection and enforcement of the law, including legal accountability standards for all public employees and severe restrictions on the invocation of ‘sovereign immunity’ to protect illegal and unethical government conduct.
We recognize the harm that drug abuse causes, but also that the ‘drug war’ has been ineffective and has led to terrible abuses of personal liberty. We favor flexible alternatives at the state and community level to combat the harmful aspects of drug use.
We oppose ‘litmus tests’ for judicial nominees who are qualified and recognize that the sole function of the courts is to interpret the Constitution. We oppose judicial amendments or the crafting of new law by any court.
Proposed language:
The first ten Amendments to the Constitution enumerate, but do not limit, the natural rights of every individual. These rights are intended to limit government action beyond the specified powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8 and should be broadly construed to recognize privacy and liberty rights expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
We oppose all restrictions on free and honest expression, most critically those that infringe on political discourse. We oppose any public financing of campaigns or public political forums and any law that allows organizations to collect campaign donations against the wishes of their individual members.
We oppose any restriction of free speech on the internet or in other media. We oppose any program to tax internet commerce or to tax or license website operators.
We oppose efforts to limit the definition of journalism. We oppose efforts to prosecute United States or foreign citizens for engaging in acts of investigative journalism or for exposing government documents whose publication is not an immediate threat to national security or the safety of government employees.
We support the separation of church and state as a safeguard of religious liberty and freedom of belief. We support an end to any government role in the definition or administration of marriage. Government involvement should be limited to the registration of civil contracts of union.
We support the original intent of an individual right to keep and bear arms.
We support the right of people to be secure in their persons and property and oppose any use of eminent domain except for essential government functions. We support initiatives in defense of medical, racial and banking privacy.
We oppose the expansion of the federal security apparatus and associated violations of individual liberty and privacy rights.
We support equal protection and enforcement of the law, including legal accountability standards for all public employees and severe restrictions on the invocation of ‘sovereign immunity’ to protect illegal and unethical government conduct. We oppose administrative regulatory initiatives which are implemented without legislative authorization from Congress.
We recognize the harm that drug abuse causes, but also that the ‘drug war’ has been ineffective and has led to terrible abuses of personal liberty. We favor flexible alternatives at the state and community level to combat the harmful aspects of drug use.
We oppose ‘litmus tests’ for judicial nominees who are qualified and recognize that the sole function of the courts is to interpret the Constitution. We oppose judicial amendments or the crafting of new law by any court.
Government Reform
Current language:
The Constitution properly limits the federal government to specific enumerated powers. The Tenth Amendment properly reserves all other powers to the states or to the people. We support these limits on government powers and a phase out of all programs and departments that violate these principles, including:
Department of Education
Departments of Commerce and Agriculture
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities
We support the phase out of any government subsidies and incentives that support or favor any business or special interest.
We support implementation of the recommendations of the Grace Commission and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.
We favor the privatization of all government assets and a transition to free market management and services for all programs that exceed the enumerated powers of the Constitution.
We support the adoption of the ‘Liberty Amendment’ to the Constitution, requiring respect for enumerated powers and repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment.
Proposed language
The Constitution properly limits the federal government to specific enumerated powers. The Tenth Amendment properly reserves all other powers to the states or to the people. We support these limits on government powers and a phase out of all programs and departments that violate these principles, including:
Department of Education
Departments of Commerce and Agriculture
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities
Drug Enforcement Agency
Transportation Safety Administration
We support the phase out of any government subsidies and incentives that support or favor any business or special interest.
We support implementation of the recommendations of the Grace Commission and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.
We favor the privatization of all government assets and a transition to free market management and services for all programs that exceed the enumerated powers of the Constitution.
We support the adoption of the ‘Liberty Amendment’ to the Constitution, requiring respect for enumerated powers and repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment.
Creation of Statement entitled “Personal Freedoms”
Proposed language:
We affirm the principle that individual rights and liberties are unlimited, as specified in the Ninth Amendment. No law should deny, disparage or restrict the right of every person to privacy, freedom of travel, association, possession of substances, or adult consensual behaviors. We oppose any requirement of government authorization prior to exercising those fundamental freedoms.
We oppose any seizure of private communications, absent the issuance of a judicial warrant showing probable cause that a crime has been committed. We oppose any constraints on the right of every person to associate with others of their choosing, participate in any activity or joint venture that is non-coercive, or freely engage in any mode of travel or social activity.
-end-
