# Chair and Vice Chair The "Rules of the Republican Party of the State of Delaware" outline detailed provisions regarding the **Chairperson** (referred to as the "State Chairperson") and **Vice-Chairperson** (referred to as the "State Vice-Chairperson") positions, covering their election, duties, qualifications, vacancies, and removal. Below is a comprehensive summary of the rules pertaining to these positions, organized by key categories, as found primarily in **Article III**, **Article IV**, and related sections. ### 1. **Qualifications and Eligibility** - **Membership in the Party** (Article I, Section 1; Article IV, Section 6): - Both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson must be **registered Republicans** on the voter registration lists of the respective Boards of Election in Delaware, as this is a requirement for membership in the Republican Party of the State of Delaware. - They must remain **registered Republicans** and **residents of their respective Convention Districts** during their terms of office (Article IV, Section 6). - **Geographic Requirement** (Article III, Section 3): - The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson must come from **separate Convention Districts** (Northern New Castle, Western New Castle, Colonial, Kent, or Sussex). - **Prohibition on Dual Office Holding** (Article IV, Section 11): - Neither the Chairperson nor Vice-Chairperson may hold another office within the Republican Party of the State of Delaware (e.g., National Committeeman, regional chair, or representative district office) or any other constituent part of the party, except they may serve as an officer of the **New Castle County Republican Committee**. - **Exception**: Publicly elected officials may hold the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson position concurrently with their elected office. - If either accepts another party office (by election or appointment), it is **deemed a resignation** of their current office. - **Compensation** (Article IV, Section 11): - Neither the Chairperson nor Vice-Chairperson may receive **compensation** for their service, though they may receive **reimbursement of expenses**. ### 2. **Election and Term of Office** - **Election** (Article III, Section 2; Article VI, Section 16): - The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are **elected at the Organizational Convention**, which occurs in **odd-numbered years** (e.g., 2025). - The election is conducted by **roll call** unless only one candidate is nominated, in which case it may be by **acclamation** (Article VI, Section 17). - Roll call may be by **Convention District** or **individual delegate**, and a Convention District caucus may authorize one member to cast its vote, but any delegate can request an individual roll call within their district (Article VI, Section 17). - A candidate must receive a **majority vote** of delegates present and voting. If no candidate achieves a majority, voting continues until a majority is reached (Article VI, Section 17). - **Term of Office** (Article III, Section 2): - Both positions serve a **two-year term**, beginning upon the **final adjournment of the Organizational Convention** and ending at the next Organizational Convention. - **Convention Leadership** (Article VI, Section 22): - By default, the **State Chairperson** serves as the **Chair of the Organizational Convention**, and the **State Vice-Chairperson** may call the convention to order in the Chairperson’s absence (Article VI, Section 13, superseded by Section 22). - However, if a petition signed by **15% of delegates** (with at least 5 delegates from three Convention Districts) is submitted **10 days** before the convention (by May 28, 2025, for a June 7, 2025 convention), the **Executive Committee** selects a temporary chair and secretary **3 days** before the convention (by June 4, 2025), bypassing the Chairperson and Secretary. ### 3. **Duties of the Chairperson** - **Article III, Section 4**: - **Administration**: Responsible for the **administration of the affairs** of the Republican Party of the State of Delaware. - **Meetings and Conventions**: Calls and organizes **State Committee meetings** and **conventions** as provided in the rules. - **Spokesperson**: Acts as the **spokesperson** for the party and manages **effective intra-party communications**, implying authority over public-facing messaging. - **Leadership Roles**: Serves as the **Chairperson of the State Committee** and **Executive Committee**. - **Reporting**: Reports regularly to the **Executive Committee** and **State Committee** on matters of general interest. - **Staff Management**: - Hires and supervises the **Executive Director** and seeks **Executive Committee** advice on related matters. - Ensures appropriate **staff personnel** are employed to meet administrative responsibilities. - **Appointments**: - Appoints members to the **Standing Committees** (Rules, Finance, Resolutions) (Article VII, Section 1). - Appoints one member to serve as the **Chairperson of the Finance and Resolutions Committees** (Article VII, Section 2). - Appoints a **Parliamentarian**, subject to **majority approval** by the Executive Committee (Article III, Section 4, H). - **Strategic and Budget Oversight** (Article V, Section 4): - Prepares and submits an **annual budget** to the Executive Committee by **January** each year, with final approval by **February’s end**. - Prepares and submits an **annual operational plan** to the Executive Committee, with final approval by **March’s end**. - Appoints members to a **Strategic Planning Committee**, subject to Executive Committee approval. - **Convention Calls** (Article VI, Section 3): - Calls **Organizational and General Conventions** (with the Secretary) at least **120 days** in advance and **Special Organizational Conventions** at least **60 days** in advance. - Schedules conventions (typically in May, unless otherwise decided with the Executive Committee). ### 4. **Duties of the Vice-Chairperson** - **Article III, Section 5**: - **Leadership Roles**: Serves as the **Vice-Chairperson of the State Committee** and **Executive Committee**. - **Support Role**: Assists the **Chairperson** in their enumerated duties. - **Temporary Vacancy**: Assumes the **duties of the Chairperson** during a **temporary vacancy** (e.g., if the Chairperson is unavailable but has not permanently vacated the office). - **Convention Role** (Article VI, Section 13, superseded by Section 22): - May call the convention to order in the **Chairperson’s absence**, unless a petition for temporary officers is submitted (Article VI, Section 22). ### 5. **Vacancies** - **Permanent Vacancy in Chairperson Position** (Article III, Section 8): - If a **permanent vacancy** occurs in the Chairperson’s office, the **Vice-Chairperson** immediately assumes the role of **Chairperson**. - The **Secretary** must call a **Special Organizational Convention** within **10 working days** of the vacancy, to be held no later than **60 calendar days** after the vacancy, to elect a new Chairperson for the unexpired term. - **Exception**: If the vacancy occurs after a general election but before the Organizational Convention following that election, the Vice-Chairperson serves as Chairperson through the end of that Organizational Convention. - **Permanent Vacancy in Vice-Chairperson Position** (Article III, Section 10): - If a **permanent vacancy** occurs in the Vice-Chairperson’s office, the **Executive Committee** appoints a successor to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. - **Definition of Permanent Vacancy** (Article IV, Section 3): - A permanent vacancy is deemed to exist upon **death**, **incapacity**, **change of registration**, **written resignation**, or if the officer is no longer a **resident of their Convention District**. Residency is determined by the address where the officer is registered and eligible to vote in a federal election. ### 6. **Removal** - **Article III, Section 9**: - The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson may be **removed from office** only by a **two-thirds (2/3) vote** of the delegates at a **Special Organizational Convention** called specifically for that purpose. - **Process**: The call for such a convention can be initiated by the **Chairperson**, the **Vice-Chairperson** (in the Chairperson’s temporary absence), a **three-quarters vote** of the **Executive Committee**, or a **written request** by **two-thirds of the State Committee** (Article VI, Section 21). ### 7. **Membership in Governing Bodies** - **State Committee** (Article IV, Section 2, A): - Both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson are **members of the State Committee**, the statewide governing body of the party. - **Executive Committee** (Article V, Sections 1 and 2): - Both are **voting members** of the **Executive Committee**. - They serve in their respective roles (Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson) on the Executive Committee, with the Chairperson leading meetings and the Vice-Chairperson assisting. ### 8. **Other Relevant Provisions** - **Budget and Operational Plan Approval** (Article V, Section 4, A and B): - The Chairperson’s proposed **annual budget** and **operational plan** require **Executive Committee approval**, with the Vice-Chairperson participating as a voting member. - **Calling Special Conventions** (Article VI, Section 21): - The Chairperson (or Vice-Chairperson in their temporary absence) may call a **Special Organizational Convention** for specific purposes, such as filling vacancies or addressing removal. - **No Proxies** (Article IV, Section 7): - At **State Committee** meetings, including those involving the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, proxies are **not allowed**, ensuring their direct participation. ### Summary: - **Qualifications**: The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson must be registered Republicans, reside in separate Convention Districts, and cannot hold other party offices (except New Castle County roles or public offices). They serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses. - **Election**: Elected at the **Organizational Convention** in odd-numbered years for a **two-year term** by majority vote, with roll call or acclamation. - **Duties**: - **Chairperson**: Administers party affairs, acts as spokesperson, calls meetings and conventions, hires staff, makes appointments, and prepares budgets and plans. - **Vice-Chairperson**: Assists the Chairperson, serves as Vice-Chair of committees, and assumes Chairperson duties during temporary vacancies. - **Vacancies**: The Vice-Chairperson becomes Chairperson upon a permanent vacancy, with a Special Organizational Convention to elect a new Chairperson. The Executive Committee appoints a new Vice-Chairperson for vacancies. - **Removal**: Requires a **two-thirds vote** at a Special Organizational Convention called for that purpose. - **Governance Roles**: Both are voting members of the **State Committee** and **Executive Committee**, with the Chairperson leading and the Vice-Chairperson supporting.