Freshman Caucus Rules Draft

2017-2018 Republican Freshman Caucus
Leader Election Rules
ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVE
ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
ARTICLE IV: ELECTION OF LEADER
ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Reference
The word caucus includes the collective body of the 2017 2018 Republican Freshman body.
Section 2: Qualifications
Membership of the caucus shall consist of Republican members of the Florida House of
Representatives duly elected in 2016 and who are eligible to serve consecutive terms through 2024.
Section 3: Eligible Members
Twenty-seven members of the Florida House of Representatives qualify for the caucus, with the
membership consisting as follows:
District 2: Representative White District 36: Representative Mariano

District 3: Representative Williamson District 41: Representative Killebrew
District 4: Representative Ponder District 52: Representative Altman
District 11: Representative Byrd District 53: Representative Fine
District 12: Representative Yarborough District 54: Representative Grall
District 16: Representative Fischer District 60: Representative Toledo
District 17: Representative Stevenson District 64: Representative J. Grant
District 19: Representative Payne District 72: Representative A. Miller
District 21: Representative Clemons District 73: Representative Gruters
District 23: Representative McClain District 75: Representative M. Grant
District 24: Representative Renner District 80: Representative Donalds
District 25: Representative Leek District 85: Representative Roth
District 33: Representative Hahnfeldt District 106: Representative Rommel
District 34: Representative Massullo
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVE

The general purpose of these rules is to achieve the following objectives:
(a) Election of the Republican leader for the term 2022 2024
(b) Foster a cohesive team among the caucus
(c) Promote a unified message from the caucus
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ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Section 1: Reference
The word meeting includes the organizational meeting to select the leader of the caucus.
Section 2: Notice of Meeting
The meeting shall be called for July 1, 2017, at a time and location that will be determined. Such
information will be confirmed at least 30 days prior and notice given to the caucus via personal email.
Section 3: Presiding Officer
The presiding officer shall open the meeting and conduct the election for caucus leader.
The Public Integrity & Ethics Committee Chair, and in the absence of the Public Integrity & Ethics
Committee Chair, the House Majority Whip or Ways & Means Chair, in that order, shall preside.
If none of the said individuals are present, the membership, by a majority vote, shall name the
presiding officer from a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives who is not a
member of the caucus.
If no individuals who are not members of the caucus are present, the membership, by a majority vote,
shall name a member of the caucus as the presiding officer. Under no circumstances is the presiding
officer eligible to be elected leader of the caucus.
Section 4: Proxies
Proxy voting is permitted during the meeting. Proxy designation must be given either prior to the
meeting, or prior to leaving the meeting prematurely.
Authorization for proxy voting must be either a document with an original signature, or an email from
a verifiable email address, or a text from the personal cell phone of the individual requesting a proxy
vote. The proxy must name the caucus member authorized to vote on behalf of the absent member.
Absent members will not be able to attend remotely. Instructions on how to vote must be given by
the absent individual to the caucus member with the designated proxy. Any concerns regarding proxy
vote directions are exclusively between the absent member and proxy voter.
Section 5: Quorum
Fourteen members of the caucus shall be present to constitute a quorum, including those deemed
present under Article III, Section 4. At no time shall less than fourteen of the members constitute a
quorum.
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Section 6: Conduct
Once the meeting is called to order, no outside communications are allowed until the meeting is
adjourned. This includes text, social media, emails, and phone calls.
Should the meeting take a recess, no outside communications may occur regarding information about
the meeting, including with caucus members who are not present.
Only members of the caucus and the presiding officer are permitted to attend the meeting. No other
individuals are allowed in the meeting room until the meeting is adjourned.
Two-thirds of the caucus may waive and/or modify any of the rules as written.
ARTICLE IV: ELECTION OF LEADER

Section 1: Nominations
All nominations shall be from the floor and must receive a first and a second to be a valid nomination.
Members may be the first or second for their own nomination.
(a) The presiding officer will open the floor for nominations.
1. Upon a first nomination being heard, the presiding officer shall confirm acceptance by
the nominee.
2. With an affirmative response, the presiding officer will ask for a second to the initial
nomination.
3. Receiving a second to the nomination will qualify the nominee as a candidate for caucus
leader.
4. Either lacking an affirmative response from the nominee or lacking a second for
nomination, the presiding officer will consider the initial nomination as invalid and open
the floor for additional nominations.
(b) The presiding officer shall ask for any other nominations.
1. In the event there is but one nomination for caucus leader, the ballot may be dispensed
with by unanimous vote of the caucus.
2. Upon hearing an additional nomination, the presiding officer shall repeat Article IV,
Section 1 (a), 1 4.
3. Should the presiding officer ask for additional nominations three times without any
additional nominations, the presiding officer will ask for a motion to close nominations.
(c) Once nominations are closed, no new candidates for caucus leader may be considered unless two-
thirds of the caucus agrees to reopen the nominations.
Section 2: Candidates
The word candidate includes all qualified nominees to be elected as leader of the caucus.
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Section 3: Candidate Speaking Time
Candidates will address the caucus in the order of their nomination.
Each candidate will have up to ten minutes, hereby known as time, to address the caucus. Time
will be kept by the presiding officer or a designate of the presiding officer.
A candidate may elect to use only part of time and divide the remaining balance between the
members who were the first or second for the nomination. Speaking order may be determined by the
candidate.
Section 4: Election
The word election includes a contest between two or more nominees for leader of the caucus.
The election for caucus leader shall be by paper ballot. No ballot shall be preprinted with the name of
any candidate. The presiding officer shall count the ballots, and each candidate may designate a
caucus member to observe. The vote count for each ballot will be announced by the presiding officer.
The election will be decided when a candidate receives more than 13 ballots or all other candidates
remove themselves from consideration. After ballots have been counted and announced, they will be
destroyed.
Should the election be between more than two candidates, with no candidate receiving more than 13
ballots, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated from consideration. All remaining
candidates will continue for the next election round. If it occurs that three candidates remain and two
candidates are tied for the fewest votes, all three candidates continue to the next election.
There will be ten minutes between each election round. This period is for the purpose of candidates
and members to discuss achieving the goal of electing a caucus leader. Additional elections will
continue until a candidate receives more than 13 ballots.
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2017-2018 Republican Freshman Caucus

Leader Election Rules

Section 3: Eligible Members

District 2: Representative White District 36: Representative Mariano

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVE

ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Section 2: Notice of Meeting

Section 3: Presiding Officer

ARTICLE IV: ELECTION OF LEADER

Section 3: Candidate Speaking Time

Candidates will address the caucus in the order of their nomination.

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