<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="4-204" title_number="4" title_name="Political Parties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Political Party Governing Bodies">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in this article, each political party shall adopt and be governed by a constitution and all bylaws and rules adopted in accordance with the constitution.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The constitution and bylaws of each political party shall provide:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>for such matters as in its opinion are necessary for the proper conduct of party affairs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for the selection of a State governing body;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>for the calling of regular meetings, advance notification of meetings, and special notice for special meetings;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>for the establishment of a quorum;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>a method of amending the political party’s constitution and bylaws;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>procedures for filling a vacancy in a nomination for public office;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>for a principal political party, for the convening of a meeting of the central committee within 45 days after the primary election in each gubernatorial election year;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>for a political party that is not a principal political party, procedures for selecting nominees for a public office; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>for the adoption of rules governing the political party.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Republican Party State Central Committee may adopt provisions in its constitution and bylaws providing for the removal of members of the Republican State Central Committee who fail to discharge the minimum responsibilities of a State central committee member.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In accordance with the constitution and bylaws of a principal political party, the central committee of that party for each county shall adopt a constitution, bylaws, and rules.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Until a central committee adopts a constitution, bylaws, and rules, the central committee shall be governed by the State central committee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Within 30 days after the adoption or amendment by a political party of a constitution, bylaw, or rule, the political party shall file a copy of the constitution, bylaw, or rule with the State Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Within 30 days after the adoption or amendment by a central committee of any county of a constitution, bylaw, or rule, the local central committee shall file a copy of the constitution, bylaw, or rule with the State central committee and the State Board.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The constitution and bylaws adopted by a new political party shall conform to the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c)(1) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a new political party decides to form local central committees, the political party shall notify the State Board of the number and size of the local central committees within 6 months after the date the State Board notified the political party that it is considered a State political party.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
