An open letter to the OKGOP State Committee: Friday, July 07, 2023
As we celebrate our country’s independence this week, let us remember our rich history of self-governance. On Saturday, May 6th when I was elected your Oklahoma Republican Vice Chair, I made two primary commitments to you: provide you voice, and work to ensure your proper authority, (the people) within our OKGOP.
Our nation has a rich history of, “We the People” possessing and exercising our God-given right of self-governance – of power resting in the hands of the people. Our Declaration of Independence confirms this gift. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”. Again, our United States Constitution confirms this God-given gift of authority. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is who we are as a people and a nation.
Our OKGOP is structured in the same manner of “we the people” possessing this authority. Just like we have a U.S. Constitution, which is the “law of the land”, so our OKGOP Rules govern our actions and authority. This is why we have structure and rules, to govern who has the authority, when and how it can be exercised. We are a party governed by, “us, the people” with a bottom-up structure, not a top-down structure. The state chair and vice chair serve at the pleasure of our state committee. You, the State Committee are the Supreme Authority of our party at the state level. You represent your fellow county republicans at the state level.
Supreme: 1. Greatest in power, authority, or rank; paramount or dominant. 2. Greatest in importance, degree, significance, character, or achievement. 3. Ultimate; final.
(Reference: Page 13 of 35)
Rule 10- State Committee
Authority and Duties: The State Committee is the supreme Republican Party authority of the state Republican Party, subject to these rules and the direction and control of the State Convention. It is charged with the duty of promoting the welfare and direction, controlling the affairs of the Oklahoma Republican Party and the Oklahoma State Republican Conventions, and in promoting the welfare of the Republican Party of the United States of America. The State Committee shall meet immediately preceding any State Convention and receive the report and recommendations of the State Executive Committee for the purpose of establishing the organization of the State Convention and shall consider same and shall thereafter make its report and recommendations to the State Convention.
Let me address the issue of our OKGOP’s form of governance. Our rules continuously emphasize the governing authority at each level of our structure, precinct, county, and state. We are a bottom-up organization governed by authorities which our rules clearly state. Our rules start with the precinct level of governance and then proceed to describing county and state authority. Each level is a self-governing body of its own, with procedures and rules. It is clear the state level body within our OKGOP does not mean authority over the county level body. Let me state one example in our rules.
Rule 6- County Committees
(b) Authority and Duties:
1. The County Committee of each county is the supreme Republican Party authority of the county, subject to these rules and the direction and control of County Conventions. (Emphasis added). It is charged with the duty of promoting the welfare and directing and controlling the affairs of the Republican Party in its county.
2. The County Chairman shall be the executive officer and the Vice Chairman the assistant executive officer of the Republican Party of the county. The County Chairman shall be responsible for the enforcement of these rules and the carrying out of the directions and resolutions of the County Committee and the County Conventions in accordance with these rules. The County Chairman shall maintain and within sixty (60) days of being elected, forward to the State Chairman a roster of membership of the County Committee and the
County Executive Committee. The County Chairman shall assist in all State and National Republican Party campaigns and shall have general supervision over all Republican Party activities, functions, and campaigns within the county.
As we enter our state meeting on Saturday, July 8th I ask you, as an official of our State Committee, to claim the authority that is yours. This will make our party stronger, more resilient and prevent a minority few from dominating our vision, purpose, and actions.
In Liberty and For the People,
Wayne
Wayne Hill
OKGOP Vice Chair
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