# Finance Committee The "Rules of the Republican Party of the State of Delaware" address the **Finance Committee** as one of the standing committees of the party, with specific provisions outlining its formation, leadership, and general role. These provisions are found primarily in **Article VII: Standing Committees**. Below is a comprehensive summary of the rules pertaining to the Finance Committee. ### 1. **Establishment as a Standing Committee** - **Article VII, Section 1**: - The **Finance Committee** is one of three **standing committees** of the Republican Party of the State of Delaware, alongside the **Rules Committee** and **Resolutions Committee**. - **Purpose**: While the rules do not explicitly define the Finance Committee’s duties, its inclusion as a standing committee implies a role in overseeing financial matters, such as fundraising, budget preparation, or financial strategy, in support of the party’s operations. ### 2. **Appointment of Members** - **Article VII, Section 4**: - The **State Chairperson** is responsible for **appointing the members** of the Finance Committee. - **Implication**: Unlike the Rules and Resolutions Committees, which have members selected by Convention Districts (Article VII, Section 3), the Finance Committee’s membership is entirely determined by the State Chairperson, giving them significant control over its composition. ### 3. **Leadership of the Finance Committee** - **Article VII, Section 2**: - The **State Chairperson** appoints **one member** of the Finance Committee to serve as its **Chairperson**. - **Role**: The appointed Chairperson leads the committee’s activities, which may include coordinating meetings, overseeing financial initiatives, or reporting to the State Chairperson and Executive Committee. ### 4. **Tenure of Members** - **Article VII, Section 5**: - Members of the Finance Committee serve **at the pleasure of the State Chairperson**. - **Implication**: There is no fixed term for Finance Committee members, and the State Chairperson can replace or remove members at their discretion, providing flexibility in managing the committee’s composition. ### 5. **Context Within Financial Oversight** - **Related Provisions**: - **Article V, Section 4, A** (Budget Approval): - The **State Chairperson** prepares and submits an **annual budget** to the **Executive Committee** in **January**, with final approval by the **last day of February**. While the Finance Committee is not explicitly mentioned in this process, its role as a standing committee focused on finance suggests it may advise the Chairperson or review budget proposals before submission. - **Article III, Section 7, C and D** (Treasurer’s Duties): - The **Treasurer** files **financial statements** with authorities and maintains **records of receipts and expenses**. The Finance Committee likely collaborates with the Treasurer to ensure financial transparency and compliance, though this is not directly stated. - **Article V, Section 1** (Executive Committee): - The **Treasurer** is a voting member of the **Executive Committee**, which approves the budget. The Finance Committee may provide recommendations to the Executive Committee through the Treasurer or State Chairperson. ### Limitations and Gaps: - **Undefined Duties**: The rules do not specify the **specific responsibilities** of the Finance Committee, such as fundraising, budget oversight, or auditing. Its role is implied to involve financial management but lacks detailed description. - **No Membership Structure**: Unlike the Rules Committee (2 members per Convention District) or Resolutions Committee (3 members per Convention District), the rules do not specify the **number of members** or **geographic representation** for the Finance Committee. - **No Meeting Requirements**: The rules do not mandate how often the Finance Committee must meet or whether it requires a quorum, unlike the Resolutions Committee (Article XII, Section 5). - **No Reporting Obligations**: There is no explicit requirement for the Finance Committee to report to the State Committee, Executive Committee, or conventions, though it may do so informally under the State Chairperson’s direction. ### Summary: - **Establishment**: The **Finance Committee** is a standing committee of the party, alongside the Rules and Resolutions Committees (Article VII, Section 1). - **Membership**: Members are **appointed by the State Chairperson**, with no specified number or structure (Article VII, Section 4). - **Leadership**: The **State Chairperson** appoints one member as the **Chairperson** of the Finance Committee (Article VII, Section 2). - **Tenure**: Members serve **at the pleasure of the State Chairperson**, with no fixed term (Article VII, Section 5). - **Implied Role**: Likely supports financial oversight, budget preparation, and compliance, collaborating with the **State Chairperson** and **Treasurer**, though specific duties are not detailed. - **Context**: Operates within the framework of the **Executive Committee’s** budget approval (Article V, Section 4, A) and the **Treasurer’s** financial reporting (Article III, Section 7).