Our Bylaws

BY-LAWS OF THE FENTRESS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

Article I

Name and Purpose

Section 1. This organization is the Fentress County Republican Party and will be referred to as the FCRP throughout this document. 

Section 2. The purposes of the FCRP shall be to promote Republican ideals, values, and Republican elected officials across Tennessee while, at the same time, helping Republican nominees defeat Democrats win in general elections. This includes fostering the growth and strength of the FCRP in both membership and funds. 

Article II

County Executive Committee

Section 1. The affairs of the FCRP shall be governed by the County Executive Committee (CEC) in accordance with the by-laws of the Tennessee Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, and the by-laws contained herein. 

Section 2. The CEC shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Treasurer, Immediate Past Chair, all State Executive Committee members representing the county, the President of the Fentress County Federated Republican Women’s Club of the Cumberland Plateau, and the Chair of the Fentress County Young Republicans (or in their absence, a representative of those constituencies appointed by the State Chair). 

A. The Vice Chair shall be of the opposite sex of the Chair and will automatically assume the duties of the Chair in his/her absence. 

Section 3. Neither the CEC as a body, nor the County Chair, shall endorse any Republican candidate in a contested primary election for local, state, or national elections. 

A. This Section shall not apply to a Chair in a primary election in which the Chair, his/her spouse, or his/her immediate family member is a candidate. 

Section 4. Members of the CEC are expected to attend every meeting. Three successive absences without a valid reason are grounds for removal from the CEC. County officers elected during county reorganization are required to attend every meeting and shall be automatically removed for having been physically absent from three (3) consecutive committee meetings. 

Section 5. The County Party Chairman shall contact the State Party prior to the resignation or removal of a CEC member. The County Chairman shall ensure that all procedural requirements have been met according to the State Party Bylaws. 

Article III

Election of Officers

Section 1. Election of officers to the CEC shall be made in accordance with Tennessee Republican Party By-laws and Rules. Officers are elected at county reorganizations held between January 15 and April 15 of each odd numbered year. 

Section 2. In the event of the death, resignation, or moving out of the county by an officer, the CEC shall proceed to elect a new officer to fulfill the remainder of the term. The vacancy shall be filled at either a regularly called, or special called, meeting of the CEC within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs. If the office to fill is the Chairman or Treasurer, the Vice-Chairman or Vice-Treasurer, respectively, shall automatically assume the duties of the office until the CEC elects a replacement. Should the CEC elect another officer to serve in the role, any subsequent vacancies shall be filled at that meeting as well. 

Article IV

Meetings

Section 1. The CEC shall set its schedule at the beginning of each year prior to January 31st.

A. The CEC shall meet at least quarterly in non-election years and shall meet monthly during election years. 

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by one third (1/3) of the CEC with seven (7) days written notice to the membership. 

Article V

Officers’ Duties

Section 1. The County Chair shall be the chief executive of the FCRP and of the CEC. He/She shall be responsible for the management and administration of the affairs of the CEC and shall coordinate the political activities of the FCRP. He/She shall preserve order and decorum at all meetings. He/She shall have the right to vote on any motion at a CEC meeting, but may reserve his/her vote to break any ties. 

A. The County Chair shall have the right to approve all special committee chairs. 

Section 2.

The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the County Chair in his/her absence. If both the County Chair and the Vice Chair are absent from a CEC meeting, the CEC shall elect a temporary County Chair to preside at the meeting. 

Updated 2025 

Section 3. The Secretary shall take the minutes of each meeting of the CEC. If the Secretary must be absent from such a meeting, the Secretary shall be responsible for obtaining a replacement. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chair of the CEC. All records of the Secretary shall be and remain the property of the CEC. 

A. The secretary shall be responsible in transmitting material relevant to the Tennessee Republican Party via electronic communication in a timely manner. Such material shall include, but not be limited to: 

1. Announcements regarding biennial reorganization 

2. County party bylaw changes or quadrennial bylaws submissions 

3. Local candidate nomination decisions (Rule H of TRP Bylaws and Rules) 

4. Vacancies and the election of county party officers 

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for implementing an internal system of financial controls. He/She shall be responsible for the bank statement and shall be responsible for counting and depositing monies received by the FCRP. The Treasurer shall report at each regular or special meeting of the CEC all receipts and disbursements since the previous meeting. All records of the Treasurer shall be and remain the property of the CEC. The Treasurer shall submit a treasurer’s report to the TNGOP twice a year; on or before the first Monday of April and the second Monday of September. 

Section 5. The Vice-Treasurer shall assist the Treasure in performing his/her duties and immediately assume the role of interim Treasurer in the event the position becomes vacant. 

Article VI

Bona Fide Republican

Section 1. The following sets forth Party Membership requirements and other parameters for candidacy to public office as a Republican in Tennessee: 

A. In addition to requirements imposed by applicable law, any individual seeking election as a Republican candidate for public office must be a “bona fide Republican.” The burden of proving to the TRP that an individual meets its membership requirements is on the prospective candidate. 

1. For purposes of this Article, a “bona fide Republican” is defined as an individual who a) is actively involved in the Tennessee Republican Party, the county Republican Party of the county in which the individual resides, or a TRP-recognized auxiliary organization, b) is registered to vote in the above-noted county; and c) who has voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent statewide Republican primary elections in which he/she is eligible to vote. 

2. For purposes of this Article, “actively involved” includes, without limitation, attending TRP meetings or events; regularly attending Republican County party meetings or events; being a member of a recognized auxiliary organization for at least one year; working on the campaign of a Republican candidate for office in the most recent previous election cycle; contribution of money to the TRP, a county party, any recognized auxiliary organization, or to a Republican candidate committee with confirmation by the candidate or candidate’s campaign official; provided, however, that such activity or actions must have occurred during the time period elapsing since the most recent reorganization of the county Republican party in the county in which the individual resides. 

Updated 2025 

3. The TRP will maintain a list of recognized auxiliary organizations, updated biennially. The SEC Political Subcommittee will determine the organizations to be included on the TRP recognized auxiliaries list in each odd year prior to December 15th, and the TRP will make a copy of its list available by January 15th of each even year. A CEC that desires to have any local auxiliary organizations considered by the TRP Political Subcommittee for inclusion on the TRP’s recognized auxiliaries list must submit its request and list no later than: 1) September 30th in years immediately following a Presidential election and/or 2) July 31st in years immediately following a Gubernatorial election. 

B. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IX, Section 1A, an individual who has voted in any of the most recent four (4) statewide primary elections held by a party other than the applicable Republican Party will be ineligible to seek the Republican nomination for any public office in Tennessee. 

C. Beginning on September 7th, 2023, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IX, Section 1A, an individual who has brought legal action against the TRP or any county Republican Party will be ineligible to seek the Republican nomination for any public office in Tennessee within ten (10) years of the final resolution of such legal action unless the individual is successful, as determined by the applicable judge or jury, on all claims made against the named defendant(s) in such action. 

D. An individual seeking any of the following elective offices as a Republican candidate will be required to submit to the TRP both a copy of his completed nominating petition and the applicable filing fee prior to the filing deadline for the office being sought. 

Governor – $5,000 

US Senate – $5,000 

US Congress – $2,500 

Tennessee State Senate – $1,000 

Tennessee State Representative – $500 

District Attorney and Public Defender – $500 

State Executive Committee – $100 

Presidential Delegate to the Republican National Convention – $100 

Countywide Elected Offices – $100 

County Commission – $25 

School Board – $25 

Constable – $25 

1. Such Fees may be submitted in any manner determined to be acceptable by the TRP, which will maintain an updated list of acceptable payment methods and provide that list to any candidate seeking office as a Republican within three (3) days of written request for the same. If the TRP posts the updated list on its website at least ten (10) days prior to any applicable filing deadline, it will be deemed to have met this requirement for all candidates including, without limitation, those making individual requests. The TRP will accept fees for any particular office during the period starting one (1) year prior to the applicable filing deadline and ending on the filing deadline for the office being sought. An individual may submit his filing fee within a 48-hour grace period after the applicable filing deadline provided that he/she pays the full fee plus an additional 25% late penalty. 

Updated 2025 

2. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article IX, Section 1D, no fee will be required from a candidate seeking a local office held by a non-Republican incumbent, who is seeking re-election. 

Section 2. The TRP, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any individual from running as a Republican candidate if it determines the individual does not meet the standards or requirements set forth in this Article IX. In addition, individual Republican voters may challenge an individual’s bona fide Republican status for purposes of seeking public office as detailed in Article IX, Section 2, Paragraph A below. 

A. Any challenge of an individual’s bona fide Republican status must be made to the State Chairman by at least five (5) individual registered voters (excluding SEC members), each of whom must 1) live in the district in which the challenged candidate has filed to run, and 2) have voted in at least three (3) of the four (4) most recent statewide Republican primary elections. Challenges must be made no later than five (5) days before the deadline for removal of a candidate’s name from a ballot under TCA Section 2-5-204 or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, or any other applicable deadline. 

B. In the event of any dispute about a prospective candidate’s qualification to seek office as a Republican or request for a waiver of TRP requirements, the final decision is within the TRP’s sole discretion. Any prospective candidate who is disqualified or challenged will be notified by the TRP and may respond to the decision and/or challenge provided that the response is provided to the TRP by its applicable deadlines. 

C. Any challenge to, or request for a waiver of, an individual’s qualification to seek public office as a Republican will be determined by a majority vote of the State Chairman and each SEC member who represents any portion of the district covered by the individual’s proposed candidacy. Neither the SEC nor any portion or subcommittee thereof is required to follow the Tennessee Rules of Evidence, Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, or any other standards required in American courts of law or equity in considering and determining any challenge or request for a waiver. 

D. The State Chairman shall communicate to the appropriate election officials all TRP decisions regarding a Republican candidate’s qualifications as determined pursuant to this Article. 

Article VII

Requirements to Seek County Party Office

Section 1. A person shall be required to meet all rules and regulations to run for party leadership as is prescribed in the Tennessee Republican Party Bylaws and Rules. 

Section 2. The FCRP defers to the State Bylaws for all issues concerning the rights of members to vote in County Party meetings. 

Article VIII

Amendment of By-Laws

These by-laws may be amended by a majority of the full voting membership of the CEC at any meeting, provided that notice of the meeting at which the vote is to be taken includes a copy of the proposed amendment. Any changes or amendments are subject to approval by the Bylaws Subcommittee of the SEC and the Chair of the Tennessee Republican Party. 

Updated 2025 

Article IX

Conformity

These by-laws are intended to be in conformity with all by-laws, rules, and regulations of the Tennessee Republican Party including the Republican National Committee, governing federal and Tennessee statutes, rules and regulations. From time to time the State Executive Committee of the Tennessee Republican Party may adopt amendments and rules to the Bylaws and Rules of the Tennessee Republican Party, this body shall promptly take such actions as is necessary to conform therewith. 

Article X

Robert’s Rules

The most recent revised edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all proceedings on matters not specifically covered by these By-Laws or the By-Laws and Rules of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Updated 2025