REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF MARION COUNTY
BYLAWS – 2026

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Article I – Name

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The name of this organization shall be REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF MARION COUNTY (RWMC).

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Article II –Purpose

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The purpose of this organization shall be:

A.    To promote an informed electorate through political education;
B.    To increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government through active participation;
C.    To facilitate cooperation among women’s Republican clubs;
D.    To foster loyalty to the Republican Party and to promote its ideals;
E.    To work for the election of Republican Party’s nominees;
F.    To unite all of our efforts toward the continuation of a two-party system in the State of Arkansas.
 

Article III –Membership 
 

Section 1: Local Clubs
A.    Membership in the REPUBLICAN WOMEN OF MARION COUNTY shall be open to Republican women who abide the Bylaws and uphold the objectives of the Club. Membership shall consist of ten (10) or more members whose bylaws provide for at least five (5) meetings a year, annual dues, and whose provisions do not conflict with the bylaws of the Arkansas Federation of Republican Women who approve the bylaws of RWMC.
B.    Republican Women of Marion County must register as a PAC (Political Action Committee) and file quarterly reports to the Arkansas Secretary of State, when they take in more than $500.00 in a fiscal year. They must then register their PAC each January. Reminder notices to register and file the quarterly reports will be sent to the clubs following registration. The forms can be copied from the Arkansas Ethics Commission web site.
C.    The word Republican shall be included in the name of all clubs. The word “Federation” shall not be used in the name of the club. The RWMC and AFRW logos may be used for AFRW purposes only.
D.    All applications for membership shall be sent to the State Federation President on forms furnished for that purpose. Certificates of membership will be forwarded as soon as application has been approved by the membership and AFRW Executive Committee. A copy of the club’s bylaws shall accompany application for active membership and any revision of said bylaws shall be sent to the AFRW Secretary upon adoption.
E.    Only local club members in good standing are eligible to be delegates or alternates to an AFRW or NFRW meeting or convention and shall be counted from only one (1) club for the purpose of representation. New clubs must be in good standing for at least six (6) months prior to the NFRW Biennial Convention to be eligible for representation.
F.    Local Club Presidents cannot publicly support candidates in a contested Republican Primary election, with the exception of the presidential preferential primary because Presidents serve as a voting member of the RPA State Committee. The First Vice Presidents serve as a voting member of their RPA District Committee meetings. Local Club Secretaries are responsible for sending the President’s contact information to the RPA and the First Vice President’s contact information to their District Chairman.

 

Section 2: Removal from Membership:
A member may be removed from membership by a two/thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee for the following reasons:
A.    Nonpayment of dues by January 1st deadline.
B.    Supporting an opposition candidate running on an opposition ticket with monetary contributions, publicly campaigning for them, or providing a forum for the candidate or campaign. AFRW and local clubs are to follow the NFRW Endorsement Policy (updated August 2018).
C.    Failure to hold at least five (5) meetings within a twelve (12) month period.
D.    Failure to maintain a minimum of ten (10) members.
E.    Failure to fulfill duties outlined in State Bylaws.
F.    Affiliation with any organization which goes against the beliefs of the Republican Party.

 

Section 3: Dissolution of Clubs: The assets, upon the dissolution of a club, shall be distributed to AFRW. None of the assets shall be distributed to any member or officer of the club. The AFRW charter shall be returned to AFRW President.

 

Section 4: Reinstatement of Membership: A member, removed from membership for any cause, may be reinstated by filing an application and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 5: Types of Membership
A.    Active Membership:
1.    Active members are individual women whose current dues are paid in the club, who support the principles of the Republican Party, and who adhere to the purposes as outlined in Article II of these bylaws.
2.    A woman is defined as being born a DNA biological female at birth.
3.    An active member who advocates a split party ticket or supports a candidate, publicly or privately, running on an opposition ticket or any ticket other than Republican, shall not be admitted to or continued in membership.
4.    Removal from membership is by a 2/3 vote of the club’s Executive Committee.
 

B.    Associate Membership:
1.    Associate Members are Republican women and men who wish to support AFRW and clubs by paying annual dues and who may or may not attend meetings, but cannot make motions, have a voice or vote, be on committees, or hold office. Dues shall be set by the individual club and shall remain in the club treasury. Associate Members may not be counted for total membership or for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to National or State Conventions.
2.    A member of any AFRW club may be eligible for an Associate Membership in another AFRW club, but she shall be counted for membership in only one club.
3.    Republican men shall be eligible only for Associate Membership.
4.    Associate Members are not members of the State and National Federations.

 

Article IV – Officers and their Duties

 

Section 1: The Officers of this organization shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected at the November regular meeting held during the even numbered years.  

 

Section 2: Duties of the Officers:
A.    The duties of the President shall be:
1.    Shall preside at all meetings of the organization and the Executive board. Appoint all standing chairmen. 
2.    Shall have general supervision of the work of the organization. 
3.    She shall represent the organization at all times or shall designate another member of the executive board in her absence or inability to do so. 
4.    She shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, excluding the nominating committee. 
5.    The President shall serve as a voting member of the AFRW Board of Directors and the Republican Party of Arkansas State Committee. 
6.    The President shall have the authority to sign checks when the treasurer is unavailable.
7.    RWMC President cannot publicly support candidates in a contested Republican primary election, with the exception of the presidential preferential primary.
B.    The Vice Presidents, in their order, shall perform the duties of the President in her absence or inability to serve. They shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them.
C.    The Secretary shall keep and present the minutes at each meeting of the organization and executive board. She shall keep a record of attendance and maintain a current membership list. She shall be custodian of all records and papers of the club. She shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to her by the president.
D.    The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
1.    The Treasurer shall be custodian of all club funds. 
2.    Collect all funds and deposit them in a bank approved by the executive committee.
3.    Keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and report monthly.
4.    Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president. 
5.    The financial books of the RWMC shall be closed on December 31st of each year and audited within thirty (30) days of January 1st by a person or persons approved by the executive committee.
6.    Responsible for registering our PAC (Political Action Committee) each January and filing reports each quarter to the Arkansas Secretary of State.
7.    Responsible for sending AFRW the list of each club’s officers and their contact information.
8.    To submit all club dues, which are due to her between October 1st, and delinquent January 1st, to the AFRW.

 

Section 3: Election of officers 
A.    Shall be held at the regular November meeting held in even years. Those elected shall take over their duties as soon as installed, (first meeting in January).  

 

Section 4: Qualification: Any local club officer or appointee must be a dues-paying member of a bona fide federated club of this state whose state and national dues are paid. 

 

Section 5: Removal of Officers: An elected officer or elected committee chairman may be removed from office by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the club members for the following reasons:
A.    Failure to qualify as a dues-paying member as stated in Article IV, Section 4.
B.    Failure to attend club meetings without good and proper reason.
C.    Failure to fulfill duties as outlined in the AFRW Bylaws.
D.    Supporting an opposition candidate with monetary contributions or publicly campaigning for them.
E.    Publicly supporting candidates in a contested Republican primary election or general primary run-off election as stated in Article III – Section 5 (amended Section 5).

 

Article V – Board of Directors and Executive Committee

 

Section 1: The AFRW Board of Directors of the State Federation shall consist of the Elected Officers, District Directors, Chairmen of Standing Committees, or the Vice Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, the Immediate Past State President, all Past AFRW Presidents, providing their membership is current in a club, and the President of each Club in good standing. The Republican National Committeewoman and the RPA Vice Chairwoman shall be members of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2: The AFRW Board of Directors shall have authority to transact the business of the Federation between Biennial Convention, to fill vacancies in elective officers that occur between Biennial elections.

 

Section 3: AFRW Executive Committee: The AFRW Executive Committee shall consist of the Elected Officers of the State Federation and the Immediate Past State President, the Republican National Committeewoman, the District Directors, and the RPA Vice Chairwoman. The Parliamentarian shall serve in a non-voting capacity on the Executive Committee. Should the Immediate Past State President not accept this appointment, the previous State President shall become a member of this committee.

 

Section 4:  RWMC Executive Committee: The executive committee shall consist of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer and shall have the authority to transact any necessary business to include, but not limited to, appointing members to office, making recommendations as to policy setting fees, and advising the president.

Section 5: Duties of the RWMC Executive Committee:
A.    Shall have the authority to transact any necessary business.
B.    Appointing members to office. Standing committees shall include: Campaign, fund raising, legislation, membership, scholarship, awards and nominations
C.    Making recommendations as to policy setting fees.
D.    Advise the President.
E.    To meet on Call of the President or written request of four (4) members.

 

Article VI – Meetings

 

Section 1: Biennial Conventions: The AFRW Biennial Convention shall be held the first weekend of April of odd-numbered years. The exception to this shall be if Easter falls on this weekend, then it shall be changed to the second weekend in April. The location shall be decided by a vote of the Executive Committee.
A.    The Call for the Biennial Convention shall be sent by the AFRW President to all members of the Board of Directors at least sixty (60) days prior to the Convention.
B.    The Convention will be hosted, in numerical order, by the local clubs of the four AFRW districts. The District Directors of the host district shall serve as the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Convention Arrangements Committee. They shall work on the Biennial Convention with the AFRW President, Program Committee and Executive Committee. All Convention-related profits shall remain in the AFRW treasury. Individual clubs may request approval from the Executive Committee to pursue fundraising projects at the Biennial Convention that would benefit their clubs.
C.    Voting Body: the voting body of a convention shall be:
1.    Two (2) delegates shall be elected from each club, (excluding the club president as she is an automatic delegate), plus an additional delegate for each fifteen (15) members, and for each elected delegate, the club is entitled to one alternate, based on per capita dues paid on membership on December 31st of the previous year.
2.    Clubs organized and filing for membership thirty (30) days before the date of the Biennial Convention will be entitled to two (2) voting delegates and two (2) alternates.
3.    The Delegates shall be selected in such a manner as their respective clubs shall prescribe; the selection shall be made not less than thirty (30) days prior to the convention and the names shall be sent to the AFRW President on forms provided for that purpose and as prescribed in the Call for the Convention.
4.    Members of the AFRW Board of Directors.
5.    Past State Presidents, providing their membership is current in a club.
D. In the Absence of a Delegate, an Alternate may vote. There shall be no proxy voting.  

 

Section 2: Board of Directors Meetings: The Board of Directors shall meet once per quarter in conjunction with the Executive Committee at such time and place as shall be determined by the President. Other meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President, or upon written request of at least four (4) members of the Executive Committee. The Call for all Board of Directors meetings shall be sent to all members of the Board of Directors, at least thirty (30) days before the meeting and shall include the meeting agenda as well as minutes from the previous meeting. An AFRW Club President may appoint any member of her club as appointed proxy who shall have a voice and vote at the meetings. In the absence of a Chairman of a Standing Committee, the Vice Chairman shall have the same privileges as the Standing Committee Chairman at an AFRW meeting. Forms for proxies will be supplied by the AFRW Secretary and must be signed by the Club President.

 

Section 3: AFRW Executive Committee meetings: The Executive Committee shall meet once per quarter at such time and place as shall be determined by the President. Other meetings may be called by the President, or upon the request of at least four (4) members of the Executive Committee. The Call for all Executive Committee meetings shall be sent to all members of the Executive Committee at least thirty (30) days before the meeting and shall include the meeting agenda. There shall be no proxies for Executive Committee members.

 

Article VII – Dues

 

Section 1: Per Capita Dues. Each club in the Federation shall pay an annual per capita dues required by the State and National Federation and listed in the AFRW Standing Rules. Dues shall be payable to AFRW December 15th and shall be delinquent January 1st.

 

Section 2: AFRW Supply Charge: Each club in good standing will receive all mailings and other services of the Arkansas Federation after payment of annual dues and supply charge as listed in the AFRW Standing Rules.

 

Section 3: Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of RWMC and the Federation shall be January 1 to December 31.

 

Section 4: Only Clubs whose dues are paid by the January 1st deadline prior to the AFRW Biennial Convention shall be entitled to representation in the convention.

 

Section 5: Service Charge as required by the NFRW and listed in the AFRW Standing Rules shall be forwarded with per capita dues to the AFRW State Treasurer for transmittal to the National Federation.

 

Article VIII – Nominations and Elections

 

Section 1: Nominations: A Nominating Committee of three (3) members shall be elected from the club at the January meeting in even numbered years.  The Nominating Committee shall submit one nominee for each office in a report to be sent out to all members with a Call for meeting. 

Nominations may also be made from the floor of the convention by members in good standing.  No one shall be nominated who has not given consent to serve if elected.

 

Section 2: If a member of the Nominating Committee resigns during the term of office, her replacement must be elected by the club members in good standing.

 

Section 3:
A.    No member of the Nominating Committee shall be included on the slate of officer candidates.
B.    In the event that the Nominating Committee cannot find a nominee to serve in one of the offices, a member of the Nominating Committee may be voted by the Nominating Committee for that office.
C.    A member of the RWMC executive committee cannot serve on the nominating committee. If a member is elected to fill a vacancy on the executive committee, and they are serving on the nominating committee, they shall resign the position on the nominating committee.

 

Section 4: Election: Election shall be held at the November regular meeting held during the even numbered years and election shall be by secret ballot except where there is only one (1) candidate for office; if only one (1) candidate for an office, election may be by voice. A plurality vote shall elect.

 

Section 5: Election Committee: An Election Committee of not less than three (3) members; two (2) from the members in good and one who shall be appointed by the President prior to the November meeting. This committee shall provide all election materials and act as tellers for the elections.

 

Section 6: No one shall serve on the Nominating Committee for more than one (1) two-year term.

 

Section 7: A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by the RWMC members at its next meeting following the announcement of the vacancy.

 

Section 8: Election of delegates to NFRW Convention: One delegate shall be elected from each club in good standing. AFRW shall elect five delegates at-large and one additional delegate-at- large for each 500 members or major fraction thereof, based on the payment to the NFRW of the current year’s dues and postmarked ninety days prior to the convention. The AFRW President is a delegate to the NFRW Convention. AFRW and local clubs are entitled to one alternate for each elected delegate.

 

Section 9: Local club elections: Local clubs shall have a provision in their bylaws specifying the time for their elections in the Fall of the year and installation of new officers shall be no later than December 31st, with their term of office beginning on January 1st of the following year.

Installation of officers in local clubs must be performed by a member of AFRW or NFRW. Local clubs Secretaries shall send lists of officers’ names and addresses, zip codes, telephone numbers and email to the AFRW President and Treasurer by December 15 of each year. The AFRW Treasurer sends the information to the NFRW once she has compiled it. If an officer resigns or moves, she shall be replaced within thirty (30) days and the new officer’s contact information shall be sent to the AFRW President and Treasurer.

 

Article IX – Committees

 

Section 1: Standing Committees: Campaign, fund raising, legislation, membership, scholarship, awards and nominations
 

Section 2: Duties of the Committees: The duties of the Standing Committees shall be prescribed by the members.

 

Section 3: Special Committees: Special Committees may be appointed by the President as deemed advisable. 

 

Article X – Quorum

 

Section 1: Committees: Quorums for meetings of any committee shall be a majority of the members of the committee, either in person or by electronic means such as telephone, cellular phone, or Internet connection where the member may both hear and be heard by attendees.  Electronic vote shall be ratified at next meeting.

 

Section 2: Executive Committee: A quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the members of the committee, either in person or by electronic means such as telephone, cellular phone, or Internet connection where the member may both hear and be heard by all attendees. Electronic vote shall be ratified at next meeting.

 

Article XI – Circulation

 

Section 1: The Federation or Club membership list shall not be given to any other organization or non- member. It may be available, as authorized by the Executive Committee, to the Republican Party of Arkansas, any local County Committee, or to Republican candidates.

 

Section 2: Any material to be circulated, displayed, or sold must have the approval of two Executive Committee members. This includes petitions, resolutions, books for sale, and political literature.

 

Article XII – Parliamentary Authority
 

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the provisions of the Bylaws of this organization.

 

Article XIII – Amendments

 

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at any meeting, provided that notice of proposed amendments has been sent to each member at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.

Section 2. Amendments shall go into effect after ratification by a majority vote at the succeeding meeting or a majority vote, taken by mail, fax, or email of a majority of the members.

Section 3. Amendments adopted by the NFRW shall take precedence over AFRW Bylaws, if there is a conflict.

Revised 04/29/2026

RWMC STANDING RULES

 

I.  AMENDMENTS

Standing Rules, or any section thereof, may be amended or suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members.

 

II. DUES

RWMC dues collected shall be $35.00/year per member of which AFRW dues shall be $4.00/year per member and NFRW dues shall be $20.00/year per member with RWMC retaining the remaining dues.

 

III. RWMC MEETING DATE, TIME AND PLACE

To be announced.