This gets to the heart of the reason why the Josephine County Republican Party remains in the state of “unorganized” until the ORP steps in. This also gets to the heart of the problem with the Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) and their desire to pick and choose which bylaws to follow and not follow.
What Happened
At the last Josephine County Republican Central Committee (JCRCC) meeting, the minutes said:
“The meeting was called to order by Delegate Matthew Robinson. Members present: Matthew Robinson, Delegate Position 1. With 1 out of 1 member present, a quorum was deemed present.”
Why That’s a Problem
According to the JCRCC bylaws, a quorum means a majority of the voting members must be present before any official business can happen.
- Article XI, section 1: The Executive Committee includes at least five members (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and one or more Delegates).
- To have a quorum, at least three of those members must be present.
- Article IX, Section 2 of the JCRCC: “A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee.”
So, a meeting with only one person cannot legally act as the Executive Committee.
What the Rules Say
Under Robert’s Rules of Order, which apply when bylaws don’t say otherwise:
“In the absence of a quorum, no business shall be transacted except to adjourn, recess, or take steps to obtain a quorum.”
That means any votes, appointments, recalls, or elections done by just one person are null and void.
What It Means for JCRCC
If a single person—or a small group without quorum—holds a meeting and makes decisions:
- The meeting is not official.
- The actions taken are not legally binding.
- Such actions can be challenged and overturned under the JCRCC bylaws and Oregon law (ORS Chapter 248).
In short:
➡️ A quorum of one is not legal.
➡️ Decisions made without a quorum don’t count.
