CHAPTER BYLAWS
Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County

       ARTICLE I: Name and Jurisdiction.

              Log Cabin Republicans is a Republican organization with Chapters throughout the United States  of America and the State of Florida. The name of this Chapter is the “Log Cabin Republicans of  Broward County (hereinafter referred to as “the Chapter” or “LCR Broward”). The Chapter’s membership will be open to any registered Republican who reside in Broward County and who adhere to the Chapter’s principles, purposes, membership requirements, and in good standing (hereinafter referred to as a  “Member”).

       ARTICLE II: Principles.

              1. The principles of the Chapter are the same as those outlined in ARTICLE I, Section 1.01  of the Standing Rules and Bylaws of the Republican Party of Florida (as amended), to  wit: we adhere to the precepts of our Nation’s Founding Fathers as reflected in the  United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, with particular emphasis upon  the rights of the individual, limited governmental power and equality under the law. We believe in the free enterprise economic system, private property ownership,  individual rights, and representative government.

              2. Additionally, we believe in a strong national defense, free trade, and that the government, at  all levels, must live within its means and not create an undue burden of debt to future  generations of Americans.

              3. In keeping with the rights of the individual and equity under the law, we affirm that no American should be discriminated against, in employment, housing, public  accommodations, taxation, or credit on the basis of sexual orientation, gender/gender  identity or any other arbitrary basis, and that all Americans, regardless of sexual  orientation or gender identity, are entitled to equal treatment under the law.

       ARTICLE III: Purposes.

              1. To assist the Republican County Committees and Republican Party of Florida in their  party building efforts at fundraising, signature gathering, grassroots organizing, GOTV,  and other related activities necessary for winning elections. 

              2. To help grow the Republican Party through coalition building, the use of media, visibility  in the community, petition drives, and voter registration efforts. 

              3. To recruit, develop, and support the Chapter’s members for election to office at all levels  of government and appointment to state, regional, and local boards and commissions,  governmental administrative posts, and to the judiciary. 

              4. To endorse Republicans for local office who share our principles specified in ARTICLE  II and to recommend the endorsement of Republicans for state and federal office to Log  Cabin Republicans, to help these candidates to win election to local, regional, state, and  federal office. 

              5. To endorse and help pass legislation and ballot measures consistent with the principles  specified in

              6. To educate the Republican candidates and officeholders; Republican Party and  Republican County Committee leaders and members, Republican volunteer  organizations, Republican volunteers and Republican voters about issues of concern to  LGBT Republicans and the LGBT Community as a whole.

              7. To promote Republican candidates, issues, and ballot measures within the LGBT  Community as well as other constituencies and the general public. 

              8. To provide a home for Republicans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and their allies to network, socialize, learn about candidates and issues, and be mobilized to grow the Republican Party and win elections. 

              9. Restrictions on Activities. LCR Broward shall conduct all its activities within the restrictions  established by Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and  the regulations relating thereto as issued by the Department of the Treasury. LCR Broward’s  assets are irrevocably dedicated to social welfare purposes. No part of the net earnings or  assets of LCR Broward shall inure to the benefit of any Director, Officer, member, or other  private individual or corporation established for profit. LCR Broward shall not participate or  intervene in any political campaign (including publishing or distributing statements) on  behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

       ARTICLE IV: Membership. 

              1. Any registered Republican of Broward County in the State of Florida, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who agrees with the Purposes and Principles in ARTICLES II and III of these bylaws and pays the requisite annual dues as set by the Board of Directors of the Chapter, may join this Chapter as a regular voting member.

              2. Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County will require an annual due of Fifty dollars (50) and zero cents (xx/100). Annual dues are non-refundable. The Chapter’s annual due structure may be revised following the Chapter’s first calendar year of operations and in every year thereafter.

              3. The Board of Directors of the Chapter set lower annual dues for a regular voting member who is/are an active Armed Forces/Veteran, in good standing, to fifty percent (50%) of base general membership.

              4. The Board of Directors may refuse or revoke membership of any individual for cause, or  for failing to comply with the membership requirements set in these bylaws. The dues or  other monies (other than loans) collected from the individual whose membership has  been refused, may or may not be returned to the individual at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

             5. Cause for refusing membership or revoking membership include, but are not limited to  bringing discredit to the Chapter, Log Cabin Republicans, Log Cabin Republicans of  Broward County, the Florida Republican Party or the Republican National Committee, serving on parole or probation upon being convicted of a criminal offense, having been formally charged of a felony or serious misdemeanor, engaging in unethical behavior including malfeasance, fraud, or issuance of bad checks, for engaging in abusive and/or disorderly behavior in public or at meetings, or for endorsing any person other than a Republican in a race where there is a duly endorsed Republican candidate or any person other than a Republican where there is a Republican running in an open primary election.

       ARTICLE V: Membership Database Software.

             The Chapter will subscribe to and use the membership database software prescribed by Log  Cabin Republicans National.

       ARTICLE VI: Membership Audit. 

             Annually, in December or when requested, the Chapter will provide to Log Cabin Republicans  National, a self-certified membership list verifying that all regular voting members are currently  registered Republicans. At the same time, the Chapter will also provide Log Cabin Republicans  (National) a list of the current officers and the current annual budget.
 
    ARTICLE VII: Rights and Responsibilities of Regular Voting Members. 

             Regular Voting Members of the Chapter have the right to be notified of all regularly scheduled  and emergency meetings and events of the Chapter and the regularly scheduled and emergency  meetings of Chapter’s Board of Directors, to fully participate at membership meetings and  events, to vote on bylaws amendments, resolutions, and to endorse or recommend endorsement of candidates and take positions on legislation and ballot measures, run and serve as members of  the Chapter’s Board of Directors, serve as a delegate at a LCR National Convention, or run and  serve as a member of the LCR Board of Directors, and to a periodic and transparent accounting of the Chapter’s finances. No Regular Voting Member of the Chapter shall be personally liable  for the debts, liabilities or obligations of the organization. Regular Voting Members are expected to pay their dues in a timely manner and to conduct their political and chapter activities in accordance with these bylaws. Hereinafter, timely manner is furthest elaborated as attending two (2) meetings in a calendar year. An active member is described as attending a minimum of two (2) general monthly meetings.

       ARTICLE VIII: Membership Meetings.

             1. The Chapter will hold at least four (4) regularly scheduled membership meetings a year,  which includes one annual membership meeting in which the Chapter elects officers and the bylaws can be amended. Depending on the number of elections taking place in the County or  Region in which the Chapter holds its meetings, there will be at least one endorsement  meeting held per election cycle. The Board of Directors will determine the venue within the Broward County area for membership meetings and board meetings.

             2. No action item may be addressed by the membership at a regularly scheduled or  emergency scheduled meeting without first being noticed by the Secretary in the meeting  agenda. Additional action items may be addressed at a meeting subject to a 2/3 vote of  the membership present and voting at any regularly scheduled or emergency meeting,  immediately after the quorum has been established.

             3. All literature, petitions, materials, or announcements of any description shall first be  submitted to the President or the Board of Directors before being circulated at any  meeting. 

             4. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all  procedural matters not otherwise provided for in these bylaws.

       ARTICLE IX: Quorum Requirements. 

             1. Annual Meeting. A quorum will be established by the attendance of a simple majority of  the total dues paying regular members as of 72-hours before the meeting being convened.  The chapter Secretary is responsible for maintaining the membership list and determining  the number of members for a quorum.

             2. Endorsements Meeting. A quorum will be established by the attendance of at least fifty  one (51%) or more percent dues paying regular members or a simple majority of the total  dues paying regular members, whichever number is greater. The membership numbers will be certified by the Treasurer as of 30-days before the meeting is convened. To prevent the stacking of the membership, no regular member may vote at an endorsements meeting who has not previously attended at least three regularly scheduled or emergency meetings of the Chapter in the preceding 12 months. The Secretary will take the roll at every membership meeting and shall certify those members who are eligible to vote on endorsements. The number of members required for a quorum will be established by the Treasurer, 72 hours before the meeting is convened.

             3. Maintenance of Quorum. Once a quorum has been established by the Secretary or the  President’s designate in the Secretary’s absence, the meeting will continue until  adjourned, whether a quorum remains in existence or not. However, no action item,  bylaws amendment, or endorsement may be voted on if a member challenges the  presence of a quorum. Quorum is determined by the Secretary. In the case that quorum is not attained, the meeting may be recessed to regain the quorum, or the vote on an action item, bylaws amendment, or endorsement will be deferred to the next regularly scheduled or emergency meeting of  the membership.

       ARTICLE X: Board of Directors.  

             1. Composition. The Chapter will have at least  5 directors: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, as well as a minimum of one at-large directors. The number of directors may be increased by amendment to these bylaws. A quorum will be established by the attendance of a majority of the current officers and directors.

             2. Terms. The terms of each member of the Board of Directors will be 12 months, beginning Jan 1, and no member may serve for more than four years in any particular office, nor for more than  eight years consecutively in any position on the Board of Directors.

             3. Contracts and Expense of Funds. Only the board of directors has the authority to sign contracts and instruments on behalf of or expend funds or resources belonging to the  Chapter. The Board of Directors is forbidden from doing business with any company  owned by a member of the board or their immediate family.

       ARTICLE XI: Election of the Board of Directors. 

             1. The Board of Directors will be elected at the Chapter’s annual membership meeting occurring in the month of November, and/or an election must be called immediately after the ratification of new bylaws.

             2. The positions in Article X.1 will be voted on individually, in the order listed. No regular  voting member nominated for any of the offices will be elected without accepting his or  her nomination, and being elected by a majority of the members who cast secret ballots. One may self-nominate for a position on the Board of Directors. If more than two candidates run for an office, and no candidate receives a majority on the  first ballot, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and a second ballot  will be held immediately following announcement of the results of the first ballot. If a  candidate is running unopposed for an office, and he or she doesn’t get a majority of the  votes of the ballots cast, the Secretary will so announce, and the office will be voted upon  at the next regularly scheduled membership meeting.

             3. A no-confidence option should be included on the ballot for races that are uncontested.

             4. If any seat remains vacant because the requisite number of officers were not elected at the  annual membership meeting or if the seat becomes vacant due to resignation or removal  from the board, that seat or seats will be voted upon at the next regularly scheduled  membership meeting.

       ARTICLE XII: Vacancies During Term of Office.

             1. Any vacancy occurring in an office prior to the expiration of that position’s term, other than that of President, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. A Director appointed by the Board shall serve for the unexpired term of that position.

             2. In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall serve as President for the remainder of the resigning President’s term. The Board shall then fill the vacancy of the Vice President.

       ARTICLE XIII: Removal of Officers/Directors.

             1. A Director may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.

             2. It shall not be in order to consider a motion to remove any Director unless such motion shall have been made in writing signed by five (5) members of the Corporation, a copy of which motion must be given personally to the Director in question and the Secretary not less than ten (10) business days before the Board meeting at which such motion is to be considered.

             3. If a Director is removed pursuant to this subsection, upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Directors may determine to fill such position at that Board meeting or at a subsequent Board meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.

       ARTICLE XIV: Endorsements. 

                    1. Candidates.
             a. The membership at its Endorsements Meeting, may endorse candidates for local or  regional non-partisan office. These endorsements are regardless of party affiliation of  the candidates, provided that no Republican candidate has qualified for the local  ballot. All candidates seeking Log Cabin Republicans endorsement must agree with the purposes and principles of the Chapter. If a Republican candidate is running on a slate with non-Republicans for nonpartisan office with multiple seats (judges, city council members or county supervisors elected at large) and requests the Log Cabin Republicans endorsement of the slate, the Chapter may endorse the slate, provided no Republicans not on the slate are also running for those respective seats.
             
             b. Statewide Office. Upon a majority vote of the membership, the Chapter may  recommend to the LCR Broward Board the endorsement of any Republican candidate for  state partisan office (e.g., statewide office, Board of Equalization, or the State  legislature) within their region in consultation with other LCR-recognized chapters in Florida.

             c. National Office. Upon a majority vote of the membership, the Chapter may recommend to the LCR Federal Political Action Committee, via the LCR Broward Board, the  endorsement of any Republican candidate for national office (President/Vice  President, United States Senator, or the U.S. House of Representatives). 

             d. At its discretion, the Chapter’s Board of Directors may require candidates seeking the  Chapter’s endorsement to complete a questionnaire by a particular deadline prior to  considering the candidate for endorsement. If required, the questionnaire must be  required of all candidates seeking the Chapters endorsement. 

                    2. Ballot Measures. The membership may also endorse, oppose, and make no  recommendation on any local or regional ballot measure that has qualified for the ballot  or any local initiative which requires signatures to qualify for the ballot. The  membership may recommend to the LCR Broward Board that it endorse, oppose, or make no recommendation on any Statewide ballot measure that has qualified for the ballot or any Statewide initiative which requires signatures to qualify for the ballot. 

                    3. Minimum Required Vote. To receive an endorsement or a recommendation for  endorsement, a candidate must receive the affirmative votes of 60% of the total ballots  cast by regular members, or the hand vote of 60% of the regular members, present and  voting. To receive an endorsement recommending either Yes or No on a ballot measure or initiative, the recommendation must receive 60% of the total ballots cast by  regular members, or the hand vote of 60% of the regular members, present and voting.  Members will be asked to vote in favor of the measure, opposed to the measure, or for “no recommendation.” Abstentions and members not voting will not be counted against  the total votes cast in determining the 60% threshold. 

                    4. Florida Election Code. Pursuant to Section 7413 of the Florida Elections Code, under  no circumstances, may the Chapter or any of its officers or directors advocate that  voters should not vote for the nominee of the Republican Party for any office, or give  support or avow a preference for a candidate of another party or candidate who is  opposed to a candidate nominated by the Republican Party.

       ARTICLE XV: Association with Unwelcome Organizations. 

              Neither the Chapter nor its officers shall in any way cooperate with unwelcome organizations in promoting, arranging, or facilitating their meetings, their hospitality functions, or the presence of  individuals representing the interests of such organizations at the meetings of the Chapter. These are organizations whose express purposes and/or activities are inimical or  hostile to, or in direct contradiction with, Republican philosophy and principles. Sponsorship of such groups as "Republicans for <Democratic Candidate>,” exhibiting high levels of campaign  spending on behalf of opponents to Republican candidates, and/or routine opposition to  Republican candidates, nominees, and/or ballot issues shall constitute prima facie evidence of hostility to Republican philosophy and principles. Neither the Chapter nor its officers shall in any way cooperate with unwelcome organizations in promoting, arranging, or facilitating their meetings, their hospitality functions, or the presence of individuals representing the interests of such organizations at the meetings of the Chapter. However, the Chapter may form coalitions with any unwelcome organization on specific local issues or causes that advance the principles and purpose of the Republican Party.

       ARTICLE XVI: Dissolution of the Chapter. 

              Upon dissolution of the Chapter, all remaining assets after debts have been satisfied with transfer to Log Cabin National or its successor organization. 

       ARTICLE XVII: Adoption and Amendment of the Bylaws. 

              These generic bylaws will be adopted by a simple majority vote at the next membership meeting  of the Chapter following their adoption and distribution by Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County. Once adopted, they may be amended by simple majority at the Chapter’s Annual Membership Meeting. Between Annual membership meetings, the bylaws may be amended upon a 2/3 vote of all members present and voting at a regularly scheduled membership meeting having a quorum. These bylaws cannot be amended at an emergency membership meeting. Bylaws amendments must be submitted to the  membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting where they will be considered.  Amended bylaws will be submitted to the Secretary of Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County for ratification by the Board of Directors at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

       ARTICLE XVIII: Designated Survivor Policy  

              1. The LCR Broward line of succession is the order in which officials of LCR Broward elected offices assume the powers and duties of the office of president of LCR Broward if the incumbent president becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office and a special election cannot be organized. The order of succession specifies that the office passes to the vice president; if the vice presidency is simultaneously vacant, or if the vice president is also incapacitated, the powers and duties of the presidency pass to the treasurer; if the treasurer is simultaneously vacant, or if the vice president is also incapacitated, the powers and duties of the presidency pass to the Secretary. If there are no elected officials able to assume the president, the powers, and duties of the presidency pass to the longest sitting appointed board member on the LCR Broward Board of Directors.

              2. In the event of a vacancy of the entire Board of Directors, Log Cabin Republicans National reserves the right to appoint a provisional Board of Directors in the interim.