Rockingham County Republican Committee Bylaws
Table of Contents
Article I – Name 1
Article II – Purpose 1
Article IV – Composition 1
A. Membership 1
Article V – Delegates 1-2
A. Role and Quorum 1-2
B. Delegate Categories 2
C. Duties of Delegates 2
D. Term of Office 2
Article VI – Membership Scope 2-3
A. Duties of Members 2
B. Election of Members 2-3
C. Term of Office 3
D. Meetings 3
1. Election of RCRC Officers 3
2. Calling/Calling Off Meetings 3
3. Presiding Officer 3
4. Quorum 3
E. Voting 3
F. Meeting Notices 3
Article VII – Officers 3-5
A. Qualification of Officers 3
B. Term of Office 4
C. Election of Officers 4
E. Duties of Officers 4-5
Attendance by all 4
1. Chair 4
2. Vice-Chair 4
3. Secretary 4
4. Assistant Secretary 5
5. Treasurer 5
6. Finance Chair 5
7. Area Chairs 5
Article VIII – The Executive Committee 6
A. Composition 6
B. Function 6
C. Order of Succession 6
D. Meetings of the Executive Committee 6
Quorum 6
E. Notice of Meetings 6
F. Voting Procedure 6
Article IX – Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts 6-8
A. Vacancies in the Executive Committee 6-7
B. Cause and Process for Removal 7
Quorum 7
C. Filing a Vacancy 7-8
D. Conflict with County, State, Federal Candidacy and/or Working for a Candidate’s Campaign 8
Article X – General Provisions for Voting 8
A. Provisions that govern conduct and operations 8
Article XI – Amendments to Bylaws 8-9
Quorum 9
Article XII – Authority for Issues not Addressed in the Bylaws 9
Article XIII – RCRC Executive Committee at the Time of these Bylaws 9
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the “Rockingham County Republican Committee,” hereafter referred to as “RCRC”.
Article II – Purpose
A. The purpose of the RCRC is to execute its duties in cooperation with the New Hampshire State GOP Committee and in accordance with the State GOP’s bylaws and RSA 667:22:
- Advocate for Republican principles and social conduct;
- Encourage Republican political activism;
- Support the election of Republican candidates to all partisan elected offices;
- Responsibly manage the affairs including the general policies and activities of RCRC; and
- Administer RCRC duties in accordance with applicable laws and customs.
Article III – Place of Operation
The operations of the RCRC shall be conducted primarily within Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
Article IV – Composition
A. Membership
RCRC membership consists of the individuals elected from the Town Committee nomination process and proper floor nominations to fill any available position(s) during the biennial membership election process, and the Executive Committee. See Article VII – Officers and Article VIII – The Executive Committee.
The total number of the RCRC is determined and provided to RCRC by the State GOP prior to RCRC’s biennial election that is held in December following a General Election. See Article VI – Membership Scope.
Note: All registered Republicans residing within Rockingham County, New Hampshire may participate in RCRC activities. Such participation shall not include voting privileges. Only official members have voting privileges.
Article V – Delegates for State GOP Convention
A. Role
Delegates are participants and voting members in the State GOP Convention. Biennially Delegates elect individual RCRC members through an election process conducted by the soon to be outgoing RCRC Executive Committee and overseen by officers of the State GOP. It takes 50% of credentialed Delegates to hold a legitimate election. Who is a Delegate is determined by how the individual became a candidate for elected office. See below: B. Categories of Delegate 1. Delegate and 2. Duties of Delegates.
B. Delegate Categories
1. Delegate:
a. Was elected as a “State GOP Delegate” for the State GOP Convention in the Primary Election;
b. Was a Republican candidate in the Primary Election for County and or State elected office.
c. Was a Republican candidate whose name appeared on the General Election Ballot for House, Senate, and or Executive Council.
2. Duties of Delegates for State GOP Convention
In accordance with RSA 667:21, Delegates for State GOP Convention shall:
a. Attend and adopt a State Party Platform at the State GOP Convention;
b. Choose Presidential Electors;
c. Affect the organization of the State GOP through active participation; and
d. Elect the Members of the RCRC and officers of the State GOP. See Article VI – Membership Scope.
Note: During an RCRC election meeting only those Delegates who are present and who have been duly credentialed are eligible to vote.
C. Term of Office
Delegates serve for a 2-year term, i.e., biennial election to the next biennial election.
Article VI – Membership Scope
A. Duties of Members
It shall be the responsibility of RCRC members to participate fully in the events and meetings of their local, county, and State GOP committees to promote the general welfare of the State GOP because RCRC members are also duly elected members of the State GOP.
B. Election of Members
The biennial election of RCRC members shall be held at a meeting called by the RCRC’s Chair during the month of December, following a state-wide General Election, but shall occur no less than twelve (12) calendar days prior to the State GOP’s conferencing meeting. RCRC members shall be elected solely by Delegates for State GOP Convention as defined and described in Article V – Delegates for State GOP Convention.
The State GOP determines the number of RCRC members that can be elected from each Town Committee and provides that information to the RCRC’s Executive Committee prior to RCRC’s December election.
RCRC notifies the Town Chairs of the number of individuals who they can nominate to be elected as RCRC members to represent their town. Each Town Chair, with the consent of their Town Committee, shall designate a slate of nominees by caucus, town election, and/or Town Chair’s appointment, no less than one week prior to the RCRC’s December membership election meeting. A person who has served as a Delegate for State GOP Convention may also be nominated and/or elected to be an RCRC member.
RCRC members serve for a 2-year term, i.e., biennial election to the next biennial election. See Article IX – Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts.
C. Meetings
1. Election of RCRC Officers: The RCRC shall meet soon after the election of its new biennial members to elect new Executive Committee Officers and are to hold full membership meetings at least quarterly thereafter during each calendar year. Traditionally, the election of officers is in January following the biennial election of members.
2. Calling/Calling Off Meetings: A full RCRC membership meeting is called or called off, when necessary, by the Chair or by the decision of a majority of the Executive Board. If a meeting is duly cancelled, a reasonable effort under the circumstances is to be made to notify regular attendees and scheduled presenters of the cancellation.
3. Presiding Officer: The RCRC Chair shall preside over each RCRC meeting. If the Chair is not available, the next officer in the Order of Succession, or the Executive Board member nominated by the Chair, shall preside. See Article VIII – The Executive Board, C. Order of Succession.
4. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of 18% of the total membership. This figure is not to include anyone who has not been duly elected as an RCRC member, e.g. visitors and presenters are not to be included.
D. Voting
When the total body of the RCRC is meeting, all members will have full and equal voting privileges on matters before the assembly. Only members present at the time of voting shall be eligible to vote. See Article X – General Provisions for Voting.
E. Meeting Notices
The Chair of the RCRC or the Chair’s designee, e.g., the Secretary shall be responsible for providing reasonably timed written and/or electronic notifications to all RCRC members and regularly attending guests in advance of any membership and/or Executive Committee meetings. See Article VIII – Executive Committee, D. Meetings of the Executive Committee
The State GOP Chair or the Chair’s designee provides notices for State GOP Meetings.
Article VII – Officers
The RCRC shall be governed by an Executive Board consisting of eight (8) officers, including a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer and three (3) Area Chairs.
A. Qualifications of Officers
Officers shall be registered Republications and members in good standing of a town, city, and/or county committee. Officers are to commit to responsibly fulfill the duties of their elected office including reasonable and/or good faith attendance of RCRC Membership, Executive Board, and State GOP officer called meetings and events.
B. Term of Office
RCRC Officers’ regular term of office is for two years if and when elected by Delegates. When a vacancy occurs and a special election is held, the new elected officer will finish out the remaining months on the original two-year term. See below C. Election of Officers, as well as Article VII – Election of Officers and Article IX – Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts.
C. Election of Officers
RCRC Officers shall be elected in January, following the biennial General Election, prior to the State GOP’s Annual Meeting that is typically held by mid-January but no later than the end of January. ONLY RCRC members shall vote for said officers.
E. Duties of Officers
All officers who are elected are expected to attend regularly scheduled RCRC meetings and special events. When an officer is not able to attend, the officer is to notify the Chair/Executive Board in advance and request an excused absence. Officers unable to attend 80% of meetings and events in any rolling 6-month period and/or who are unable to fulfill the responsibilities of their position may be subject to removal and replacement. See Article VII – Election of Officers and Article IX – Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts.
1. Chair
- Coordinate organization of each town or city with Rockingham County.
- File annual activity reports with the State GOP.
- Attend the monthly meetings of the Executive Board of the State GOP Committee, as a voting member of that body and as a representative of Rockingham County.
- Support all Republican candidates equally, not allowing any partiality, preference, or conflict of interest regarding candidates interfering with said duties as the RCRC Chair. Should any conflict arise, or should the Executive Board determine whether a potential for conflict exists, the Chair shall recuse participating in any activities or decisions pertaining to an issue, and the Vice Chair shall take headship on the issue(s).
- Oversee the day-to-day income and expenses of the RCRC.
2. Vice–Chair
- Assist the Chair.
- If requested by the Chair, preside over RCRC’s membership meetings and Executive Board meetings. Attend State GOP Committee meetings when requested by the Chair.
- Support all Republican candidates equally; and, when acting for the Chair, be subject to the same restrictions that apply to the Chair regarding conflicts of interest. If the Vice Chair recuses participating on an issue, the Secretary shall act in his place.
3. Secretary
Record and maintain the minutes of RCRC meetings and be the custodian of the permanent records of RCRC.
4. Assistant Secretary
The Assistant Secretary shall provide any assistance requested by the Secretary and shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary if and when the Secretary is unavailable and or unable to perform stated secretarial responsibilities.
5. Treasurer
- Act as custodian of RCRC funds and render proper accounting at each meeting of all receipts and expenditures approved by the RCRC and/or by the Executive Board.
- Initiate an annual review of all RCRC financial records. The results of the annual review shall be reported to RCRC at the subsequent full membership meeting after the review is completed.
- Timely
submit all legally required State Tax Records to the appropriate State authority. - The treasurer shall release funds only when explicitly voted to do so by the Executive Board
6. Area Chairs
a. Three (3) Area Chairs shall each represent a specified geographic area of Rockingham County that corresponds to the three County Commissioner Districts.
- Area Chairs shall be residents of the area they represent.
- Area Chairs have full voting privileges as Executive Board members.
b. The Towns in each of these three Districts are:
Area 1: Epping, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Rye, Stratham and Portsmouth.
Area 2: Atkinson, Newton, Plaistow, Salem, Seabrook, South Hampton and Windham.
Area 3: Auburn, Brentwood, Candia, Chester, Danville, Deerfield, East Kingston, Fremont, Hampstead, Kingston, Londonderry, Northwood, Nottingham, Raymond and Sandown.
c. Duties of Area Chair:
- Facilitates establishing a Town Committee in towns where there are none.
- Is the primary liaison between Town Committees and the RCRC thereby provides support, guidance, and assistance to Town Committees in their area.
- Nominates candidate(s) for election to the RCRC in towns that do not have a Republican Town Committee.
- Reports on the status, activities, and achievements of the Town Committees within their area to the full RCRC membership at regularly scheduled meetings.
Article VIII – The Executive Board
A. Composition
The Executive Board shall consist of eight (8) members, including the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Area 1 Chair, Area 2 Chair, and Area 3 Chair.
B. Function
The Executive Board shall function as the governing body of RCRC and shall make all decisions and take all actions necessary to effectuate the purposes of the RCRC, enumerated in this document, during those periods of time when RCRC is not in a full membership meeting.
C. Order of Succession
The Order of Succession shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer.
D. Meetings of the Executive Board
The Executive Board may meet regularly each calendar month. A quorum of 50% shall be required to conduct official business.
E. Notice of Meetings
The Chair or the Chair’s designee shall be responsible for providing reasonably timed written and/or electronic notification(s) to all RCRC members. Whenever possible, at least one notice should be sent fourteen (14) days in advance of any RCRC full membership meeting and/or for regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting. See Article VI – Membership Scope, F. Meeting Notices.
F. Voting Procedure
Routine Business of RCRC will be voted on by the Executive Board at their regularly scheduled full membership meeting.
Business requiring adoption by RCRC’s full membership includes the budget, major expenditures, and/or policy positions. Each of these shall first be presented to the Executive Board for review and consideration.
Proponents and opponents may testify before the Executive Board regarding an issue at a meeting scheduled for that purpose. The Executive Board shall vote on a recommendation to support or reject the issue. This recommendation shall be presented to the full RCRC membership at its next meeting, where members may again speak to the issue. The RCRC membership shall then vote on the issue, and if approved, the Executive Board shall implement the decision.
Article IX- Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts
A. Vacancies in the Executive Board
A vacancy in the Executive Board shall occur if and when an officer changes political party registration to anything other than Republican, no longer lives within the county or city, dies, submits a written resignation, and/or is removed.
Vacancies in any of the positions enumerated in these bylaws, except for the Chair, shall be filled in Article IX -Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts, C. Filling Vacancies. Should a vacancy occur with the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair.
B. Cause and Process for Removal
The Executive Committee, at a regularly scheduled meeting attended by a majority of its members, may remove an Executive Committee member, except for the Chair, for sufficient cause, upon an affirmative vote of 75% of its members physically present at meeting with a quorum present. The Chair removal would require agreement by the State GOP for cause upon a vote by 75% of the Executive Committee.
1. Cause
Sufficient cause is defined as excessive absences from meetings, failure to adequately perform the duties of office, any action or failure to act that is illegal, immoral, and/or negligent, and/or which has an adverse effect and/or casts a negative light on RCRC and/or the State GOP, or acts against the candidacy of any Republican candidate for office in a general election.
2. Process
In situations involving an RCRC member and or an RCRC officer, the Chair and the Executive Board members, excluding the individual member, may hold a special meeting to discuss the situation and what if any actions are to be proposed and what steps should be taken to rectify the seriousness of the situation. The Chair may consult the State GOP Chair, and, if necessary, the State GOP designated attorney. Regardless of the level of counsel involved, the Chair is responsible for taking appropriate action including:
- proper written notice to the individual;
- notice of the pending action;
- providing an offer or not providing an offer for the individual to resign by written notice to the Chair;
- notification of any appeal process if reasonably warranted under the circumstances;
- notification of the circumstances that would allow the individual to continue being an eligible voting member of the RCRC and/or returning to candidacy as an officer, e.g. when personal health and/or employment circumstances allow the individual to be able to fulfil the obligations of the office/membership position;
- notification of actions that will be taken if the individual tries to attend a meeting/s to defy the legitimate actions taken for the individual’s dismissal.
See Article VI – Membership Scope and Article IX Removals, Vacancies, Resignations, and Candidacy Conflicts.
When dismissal action is taken, the Chair shall notify the State GOP Chair of the action taken, which includes how the action affects the dismissed individual’s current and future membership rights and privileges. Copies of any written correspondence are to be submitted to the State GOP.
C. Filling a Vacancy
If an Executive Board member is removed from office per the procedure specified above in Article IX – Sections A and B, the Executive Board may identify a candidate to fulfill the remaining term of that officer. The Executive Board, with a majority vote, may put an individual into that position. If no candidates are identified, the vacancy may be announced to the full membership within 30 days of the vacancy and at the next available regular meeting an election may be held. Nominations may be taken in writing submitted to the Chair or the Chair’s designee prior to the election meeting. Additionally, nominations may be taken from the floor. A proper election would then be held to fill the vacant position. The person receiving a majority of the votes would be elected to the position and be expected to serve the remainder of the term.
Should a vacancy occur with the Chair, the Vice Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair, and the above procedure shall be followed to name a new Vice Chair.
Should a dismissal action involve the position of Chair, the same procedures as stated above shall be followed. See above, B. Cause and Process for Removal
An RCRC membership vacancy of a Town Committee member shall be referred to the respective Town Chair for a replacement via a replacement election by the Town Committee.
D. Conflict with County, State, or Federal Candidacy and/or Working for a Candidate’s Campaign
Due to the commitment required especially during the period of a contested Primary Election, an Executive Committee member shall, at minimum, take a leave of absence from the Executive Committee upon filing as a candidate and/or as a campaign worker, for U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, NH State or County elected office, e.g., Governor, Executive Council, State Senate, or State Representative.
Article X – General Provisions for Voting
A. Voting
RCRC voting conduct and operations shall be as follows.
- Each member shall have one (1) vote.
- Any question shall be decided by a majority of those present and voting, with the exception of changes to the Bylaws. See Article XI Amendments to Bylaws.
- In the event of an election where more than two (2) candidates are running for one office, then a plurality of those present and voting shall be sufficient to be elected.
- Individual telephonic, electronic, or written votes shall not be made on any issue that may come before the Executive Board or the RCRC. If a member can participate in the discussion that precedes any vote, via a live teleconferencing connection, then the member shall be able to vote in that manner on that specific issue.
- The Chair shall abstain from voting except to break a tie.
Article XI – Amendments to Bylaws
Proposed amendments to the bylaws may be submitted to the Executive Board at any time by any member in good standing. Proposed changes to the bylaws may be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at any time but no later than the September Executive Board meeting in order to be considered for adoption in that specific calendar year.
The Chair shall appoint an ad hoc committee to review all proposed amendments.
The Bylaws Committee (ad hoc or standing) shall submit a report to the Executive Board, at the appropriate Executive Board meeting, on its review of all proposed amendments, and subsequently recommend or not recommend that the proposed amendment(s) be incorporated into RCRC Bylaws.
After reviewing the report from the Bylaws Committee, the Executive Board may submit a final draft to the RCRC’s full membership at the next regular full committee meeting or by the November meeting if changes are submitted in September of that year. The proposed final draft may be voted upon at a December membership meeting and by the current RCRC membership, even if the vote is being taken prior to the election of new biennial members for the upcoming two (2) years.
A 2/3rds majority of those present and voting, when a quorum is present, shall be necessary to amend these Bylaws.
Upon adoption of any amendments to the RCRC’s Bylaws, the Executive Board’s Chair and Secretary shall immediately file the complete RCRC amended Bylaws with the Secretary of the State GOP.
Article XII – Authority for Issues not Addressed in these Bylaws
A. Robert’s Rules of Order
All RCRC business that is not directly addressed in these bylaws shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Article XIII – RCRC Executive Board at the time of these Bylaws
November 2025.
Srinivasan Ravikumar (Chairman) __________________________________________
Peter Torosian (Vice Chairman) ________________________________________
Cynthia Finn (Secretary) __________________________________
William J. Smith (Treasurer) __________________________________________
Pam Skinner (Assistant Secretary) ________________________________________
Denise Katz (Area 1 Chair) __________________________________
Mary Bartel (Area 2 Chair) __________________________________
Jim Michaud (Area 3 Chair) __________________________________
RCRC Membership adopted these Bylaws on November 24, 2025