Moore County Republican Party

 PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

Most recent Changes in Bold

Adopted March 29, 2008
Preamble

We, the members of the Moore County Republican Party, dedicated to the sound principles fostered by our party, conscious of our civic responsibilities and rights, firm in our determination to give our strength to preserving the American principle that government ought and must be of all the people, by all of the people, and for all of the people, do, for the purpose of uniting and coordinating our efforts for maximum power and efficiency, herewith establish and adopt this instrument, The Plan of Organization of the Moore County Republican Party.

Article I
Membership

All citizens of Moore County, North Carolina who are registered Republicans are members of the Republican Party of Moore County and shall have the right to participate in the official affairs of the Republican Party in accordance with these rules. All reference herein to Delegates, Alternates, Officers and Members shall, in all cases, mean persons identified and registered with the Republican Party in the Precinct of their residence. Any person running for any office within the county or precinct Republican Party structure shall be a resident of the jurisdiction in which he seeks office.

Article II Precincts

A. Annual Precinct Meetings

1. Call for Meeting

 a) In every year, the County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings during the month of February or the first 15 days of March, by giving 10 days written notice to each Precinct Chairman and by notices in newspapers of general circulation within the County as provided for in Article VII.A.4 of the State Plan of Organization, and that the Precinct Chairs also be informed as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the County Convention.

b)   Failure of the County Chairman to act in compliance with the provision above shall be cause for any member of the County Executive Committee to call said Precinct Meetings by notice in newspapers of general circulation within the County, as provided in Article VII.A.4 of the State Plan of Organization.

c)    Every Republican registered prior to January 31 preceding the Meetings shall be entitled to cast 1 vote, except that the January 31 requirement shall not apply to residents who have moved into the Precinct within 30 days of the Precinct Meeting.

2. Election of Precinct Officers

a) At odd-year Precinct meetings, at which a quorum is one person,  Members shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of:

(1)   Chairman

(2)   Vice Chairman

(3)   Secretary

(4)   A sufficient number of Members-At-Large as deemed by the Chairman to conduct the business of the Precinct.

b) Term of Office. Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold their offices for two (2) years or until their successors are chosen.

c) There shall be no proxy voting.

3. Election of Delegates and Alternates

a)    The annual Precinct Meetings shall elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to the County Convention. They shall also elect 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 100 registered Republican voters, or major fraction thereof, in the Precinct as of January 1 of that year. In determining the number of registered Republicans to be used as the basis for the number of additional Delegates and Alternates to be elected under this calculation, the County may adopt in its Plan of Organization a basis number of registered Republican voters less than 100 but, in so doing, must assure a proportional representation of all registered Republican voters in the county.

b)     Voting for Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention shall be by voice vote or show of hands whenever the number of Precinct members present and willing to serve is less than or equal to the allowed number of

Delegates (or Alternates) for that Precinct. Nominations for any remaining Delegate (or Alternate) positions shall be accepted in the following order:

(1)   Persons not in attendance who have contacted the Precinct Chair prior to the meeting,

(2)   Persons who are known to be willing to serve and are nominated by a Precinct member in attendance.

c) Whenever the number of Precinct members present and willing to serve exceeds the allowed number of Delegates (or Alternates) for the Precinct, voting shall be conducted as follows:

(1)   Nominations for Delegates (or Alternates) shall be taken only from the sign-up sheet of Precinct members present and willing to serve.

(2)   Ballots shall be provided upon which each member shall record his choices for Delegate (or Alternate) up to the number of allowed Delegates (or Alternates) for that Precinct.

(3)   Names may not be entered more than once on any one ballot. Names entered more than once shall be counted only once.

(4) The Precinct Officers shall provide for the collection and tallying of the ballots, and announce the results.

(5) Any tie vote shall be decided by a second ballot among those tied for Delegate (or Alternate).

(6) Voting for Delegates shall take place first, followed by voting for Alternates.

(7) After voting for Delegates and Alternates has been completed, any unfilled Alternate positions may be filled in accordance with Article II. A.3.b.

4. Duties of Officers

a)    The Chairman of the Precinct Committee, with the advice and consent of the Precinct Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the party within the Precinct; shall preside at all Meetings of the Precinct, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Precinct Committee or the County Executive Committee.

b)     The Vice Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chairman.

c) The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records and shall maintain a list of registered Republican voters and workers within the Precinct, unless otherwise provided by the Precinct Committee or the County Executive Committee. Minutes and Records shall be made available for inspection (upon reasonable notice) by any member of the Precinct, or by the County Chairman or County Vice Chairman.

d)   The Chairman and Secretary (or at least one other designated Precinct member) of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, and Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman. Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least 2 days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting, unless the Precinct Meetings and County Convention are held on the same day.

e)    Before submission to the County Secretary, the list of Officers, Delegates and Alternates shall be legibly printed or typed in alphabetical order by last name and each name and mailing address shall be verified using the listing of registered voters supplied to each Precinct Chairman.

f) No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the Precinct Meeting. This delegate list shall be made immediately available to any Republican candidate, at that candidate's reasonable expense, along with a confidentiality and use agreement that said list will be used only for Republican activities related to the candidate's run for office.

5. Other Precinct Meetings

a)    Other meetings of the Precinct general membership may be held at such times as shall be designated by the Precinct Chairman after giving five (5) days notice of such meeting in newspapers of general circulation within the County; or upon similar call of 1/3 of the Members of the Precinct Committee, or 10 members of the general Precinct membership, or by such other method of notification as may be specified in the County Plan of Organization.

b)   There shall be no proxy voting.

c) In the event a Precinct fails to properly organize, or the Precinct Chairman, Vice Chairman, or Secretary fails to act, the County Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Precinct Chairman to serve for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days during which a general Membership Meeting can be called and a new Chairman elected.

B. Precinct Committee

1. Duties of the Committee

a)     furthering Republican ideals and principles at the neighborhood level;

b)     promote Republican candidates for office;

c)      cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities;

d)     provide the County Chairman with a list of Party Members within the Precinct suitable for appointment as Election officials;

e) promote the objectives of the Party within the Precinct.

2. Vacancies and Removals

a)     Upon a vacancy in the precinct committee due to death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the Precinct, removal of any Officer, or Member of the Precinct Committee, or for any other reason , the County Chairman  shall direct that an election shall be held at the next precinct meeting to fill vacancies .

b)     The procedure for the removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article IV.D. Such removal may be appealed to the County Executive Committee within twenty (20) days and their decision shall be final.

Article III

County Organization

A.  Organization

The affairs of the Moore County Republican Party shall be managed by an Executive Committee, as further defined hereafter, which is responsible for furthering Republican ideals and principles in the County; with the authority to establish and execute such practices and policies it deems in the best interest of Republicans; promoting Republican candidates for office; representing Moore County Republicans in regional, state, and national Republican organizations; supporting Republican elected officials and candidates for office who have been selected in County and State primary elections; and with performing such duties as may be required by the North Carolina Board of Elections.

B. County Convention

1. Call of Convention

a) A County Convention shall be called every year by the Chairman of the County Executive Committee, at a suitable location within Moore County, in the month of March, at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and following procedures given in the State Plan of Organization Article VII.A.4. Notice shall be published in newspapers of general circulation within the county at least ten (10) days prior to the Convention. All Precinct Chairmen will receive a confirmation letter ten (10) days before the Convention convenes.

b)  Credentials Committee: At the time of the call of the County Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee that shall consist of no less than three (3) people which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least three (3) days prior to the convening of the Convention, unless the Precinct Meetings and County Convention are held on the same day. All Delegates and Alternates challenged in the report of the Credentials Committee shall be notified prior to the day of the Convention and allowed to present their case to the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the Convention. The Delegates and Alternates elected at the Precinct Meetings, unless specifically challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.

c)  Rules, Resolutions and Plan of Organization Committees: The County Chairman shall also appoint a Rules Committee, a Resolutions Committee, and a Plan of Organization Committee, consisting of no less than three (3) members each, who shall give written notice of all business it will place before the convention at least fourteen (14) days prior to the convening of the Convention. Any business on which notice has not been given shall not be taken up by the Convention or be placed on the agenda except and unless there is a motion from the floor of the Convention to add the new business to the agenda, that motion must be approved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Convention.

d) The County Chairman shall establish a Nominating Committee to provide nominations for County Party Officers. The Committee shall consist of the following five (5) members:

(1) An appointee of the President of the Moore County Republican Men's Club;

(2) An appointee of the President of the Moore Republican Women;

(3) An appointee of the President of the Moore County Young Republicans;

(4)   Two additional members as decided upon by the Executive Committee.

e) If the County Chairman fails, refuses or neglects to call a County Convention as required by this Article, it shall become the duty of the Vice Chairman to act in this capacity. The Vice Chairman shall give five (5) days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairman and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article III.B.1.a. If the County Chairman or Vice Chairman does not call such a Meeting, it shall be cause for any Member of the County Executive Committee, with the approval of the Congressional District Chairman, or Chairmen, to call such a County Convention.

2. Convention Action

a)    The County Convention shall adopt or amend a written County Plan of Organization not inconsistent with the State Plan of organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at County, District and State Headquarters. Failure to comply may result in the County Delegation not being seated at the State Convention by the Credentials Committee. Failure of the County Republican Party to submit the County Plan of Organization to the NCGOP Headquarters within thirty (30) days of its adoption, by certified US mail, return receipt requested, shall constitute agreement by the County Party to adopt the State Plan of Organization. The County Convention may authorize the County Executive Committee to amend the Plan by a two thirds (2/3) vote of approval.

b)   Elections

(1) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are duly elected. No one individual may hold more than one of these positions concurrently. No individual may be elected to a specific office for more than two (2) terms.

(2) In every odd-numbered year, the County Convention shall elect to the County Executive Committee five (5) At Large Members, in addition to the County Officers, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.

(3) The County Convention shall, in accordance with the County Plan of Organization, elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus one (1) additional Delegate and Alternate for every 250 voters, or major fraction thereof, registered in Moore County as of January 1 of that year. Moore County shall further elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate for each Republican elected to the state legislature and to public office on the state or national level from Moore County in the last election held for that office. With respect to the District Convention, the additional one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate shall only be elected to the District Convention being held in the District in which said Republican elected to the State Legislature or to Public Office on the state or national level actually lives.

(4) The County Convention may authorize the County Executive Committee to amend the County Plan to insure its compliance with the State Plan of Organization.

3.    Credentials

The County Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall certify the election of Officers, Executive Committee Members, Delegates and Alternates to the District and State Conventions, on forms furnished by the State Central Committee and in conformance with Article VII of the State Plan of Organization. Completed Credentials shall be in the hands of the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadline set by the State Chairman. All County Credentials for the State Convention should be mailed to State Headquarters no later than ten (10) days following the date of the County Convention or the deadline set by the State Chairman, whichever date comes first. The postmark date will be used to determine compliance for mailed credentials. Copies of all newspaper notices shall be submitted to the NC Republican Party along with County Credentials. No Delegates or Alternates shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the County Convention.

4.    Convention Fee

For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or Alternate to the State Convention, the County Executive Committee shall forward to the State Party necessary funds to pay the fee set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to each elected Delegate and Alternative.

C. The County Executive Committee

1. Membership

The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and the following Members:

a)     Precinct Chairmen;

b)     Five (5) At Large Members elected at the County Convention;

c)      President of the Moore County Men's Republican Club;

d)     President of the Moore Republican Women;

e)     President of the Moore County Young Republican Club;

f)      Chairman, Minority Affairs Committee;

g)     Chairman, Finance Committee;

h)     Moore County elected Republican State Senator and Representative, without vote; and

i)       Moore County elected Republican officials, without vote.

or Club. If none of the Precinct or Club Officers (or a properly designated representative) attends an Executive Committee Meeting, that Precinct or Club, will not have a vote at said Meeting.

4. Duties of Officers

a) The Chairman of the Moore County Executive Committee, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within Moore County. His duties include the following:

(1)   Issue the call for Precinct Meetings and the County Convention and Executive Committee Meetings;

(2)   Shall preside at all the Meetings of the County Executive Committee;

(3)   May recommend the appointment of an Assistant Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, and any other appointments deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee;

(4)   Shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention;

(5)   Shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Moore County to the District Chairman;

(6)   Shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every Precinct within the County;

(7)   Shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District, and State Executive Committees;

(8)   Shall appoint a Finance Chairman and an Audit Committee, subject to the advice and consent of the Executive Committee;

(9)   Shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans in Moore County; and

(10)   May serve as a member, without vote, on all Committees, except the Nominating Committee.

b) The Vice Chairman shall function as the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. His duties include the following:

(1)   Chief Assistant to the Chairman;

(2)   Establish and maintain contact with the District and State Vice Chairmen;

(3)   May serve as a member, without vote, on all Committees;

(4)   Other duties as prescribed by the County Chairman.

c) The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records of the Moore County Republican Party, including the following:

(1)   Maintain a roster of all Precinct Officers and Executive Committee Members. Such records shall be available, including all Credentials Lists upon request, to any registered Moore County Republican;

(2)     Assist the Chairman in obtaining and preserving a list of all registered Moore County Republicans;

(3)   Furnish to the District Chairman and to State Party Headquarters current lists of all Precinct Chairmen; and

(4)     Such duties as may be prescribed by the County Chairman and the Executive Committee.

d) The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the County Executive Committee. His duties further include:

(1)     Shall make a financial report at all County Executive Committee Meetings;

(2)     Shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws.

(3) An Assistant Treasurer will be appointed, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee to assist the Treasurer, when requested by the Treasurer, in the execution of the Treasurer’s duties.

5. Vacancies and Removals

a)    In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within Moore County, or removal of any Officer or Member of the County Executive Committee, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the County Executive Committee.

b)   The procedure for removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article IV.D. Such removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within twenty (20) days and its  decision shall be final.

D. Standing Committees

1. The Finance Committee

a)     Shall consist of the County Finance Chairman, County Chairman, County Vice Chairman, County Treasurer, and not less than three (3) Members selected by the County Chairman and approved by the County Executive Committee;

b)     Shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees;

c)      Shall have active management of all Party fundraising activities within the County;

d)     Shall report the status of fundraising activities at every meeting of the County Executive Committee;

e)     Shall prepare an annual budget for Executive Committee approval. Such budget shall reflect the fiscal year beginning January 1 of each year; and

f)      Members of the Finance committee shall not be eligible for service on the Audit Committee.

2. Audit Committee

a)  Shall consist of not less than three (3) members appointed by the Party Chairman with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee.

b)   Shall conduct a yearly review of the financial records of the County and report such review to the County Executive Committee for approval. This review shall be of a type and nature deemed appropriate by the members of the Audit Committee and shall be completed within 60 days of the end of the fiscal year.

c)  Shall request the Executive Committee to fund and conduct an external review every four years.

d)  The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be chosen by the Committee itself.

3. Minority Affairs

a)    Shall be responsible for promoting the Party's efforts to increase minority participation in membership and activities of Republicans in Moore County.

b)   Shall develop and present a plan of outreach to the Executive Committee for their advice and consent and then promulgate and manage the plan's execution within the minority community.

Article IV

General Administrative Procedures A. Convention Procedures

1. Annual County Convention

a)  The annual County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman, or in the absence of the County Chairman, by the Vice Chairman or Secretary, in order stated, who shall have the power to appoint the necessary Convention Committees, and Temporary Officers at, or before, the convening of the Convention.

b)  No member of the Credentials Committee created by this Plan shall be eligible to be elected to an Officer or Executive Committee position at the Convention for which the Credentials Committee serves, nor shall a Committee Member publicly support anyone for an office to be elected by said Convention. Except when voting in convention, members of the Credentials Committee

shall strive to maintain the integrity of the Convention and the Committee by conducting the business of the Committee with impartiality and strict neutrality on the business and elections of said Convention.

2. Voting Procedure

a)    No Precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected Delegates on the floor at the County Convention.

b)   No person shall be seated as a Delegate unless such person shall have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct Meeting or County Convention; except, the Republican or Republicans, present at a County Convention from an unorganized Precinct, which has not had its credentials accepted, shall have the right to vote one (1) vote per Precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.

c) No Delegate or Alternate to a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy.

3. Public Notice

Notice published in County newspapers of general circulation shall include either a paid advertisement or a news item, provided it includes the time, date, location and purpose of the Meeting. Such notices shall appear in the newspapers at least ten (10) days prior to the Meeting or Convention. This in no way relieves the County Chairman of the responsibility of providing written notice to Party Officers as may be otherwise required by this Plan of Organization.

B.    Committees

Ex-officio members of the standing committees are not counted in determining if a quorum is present. When an ex-officio member of a committee ceases to hold the office that entitles him to such membership, his membership terminates automatically. Should any member of a committee be unable to serve for any reason, his replacement, if any, shall be appointed/elected in the same manner in which the original member was appointed/elected.

C.   General Election Procedures

Notwithstanding any other Article in this Plan of Organization, the allocated Delegate and Alternate slots allotted to each Precinct under this Plan of Organization shall first be filled by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote, and  present at their Precinct Meeting and desiring to be elected to fill such slots. Any duly qualified Republicans registered to vote may be elected by qualified Republicans attending their Precinct Meeting to fill slots that have not been filled by Republicans attending the meeting.

D. Vacancies and Removals

Any Officer or member may be removed by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by one third (1/3) of the Members of the Committee. Any Republican against whom charges are brought shall be furnished with two (2) weeks notice of said charges and be given an opportunity to present a defense. Removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty, or failure to comply with the County, District, or State Party Plans of Organization.

1.    For the purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty" shall be defined as endorsement by any County Officer of a candidate of another Party (or unaffiliated candidate) running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party in a general election, or endorsement by any County Officer of any candidate in a contested Republican Primary election.

2.    Any current or former member of a Precinct Committee or County Executive Committee who, for any reason, is removed or resigns from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way connected with that position.

E. Non-Partisan Offices

No Member of the Moore County Republican Party shall offer an opportunity for a candidate for, or current office holder of, a "non-partisan office" who is not a registered Republican to address a Republican Convention or any other function sponsored by, or in association with, a Moore County Republican Party or any of its subdivisions.

F.    Official Records

Minutes shall be kept by all Committees and Conventions of official actions taken, and a copy shall be filed with the Chairman of the appropriate Committee or Convention and with the County Secretary.

G.   Financial Accounts

1.    Records: The Chairman, Treasurer, and Finance Chairman of the County shall keep faithful and accurate records of any and all monies received by them for the use of the said Committees and shall make faithful and accurate reports thereof when so requested.

2.    Loans: No Officer or Member of the Party shall cause the Party to undertake a

loan without prior approval of two thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee. 3. Budgeted Expenses: No Officer of the Party shall exceed approved total

budgeted expenditures without approval of two thirds (2/3) of the Executive

Committee.

Article V Elections

A.  Qualifications: A candidate filing for election to a municipal, county, or state office as a Republican must have been a registered Republican for at least thirty (30) days.

B.  Candidates in Primary Elections: When any Party official at the county level or above becomes a candidate in a Republican Primary Election, he shall be deemed to have resigned from all Party offices above and including the level of Precinct Chairman.

C. Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, and Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention, on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman. Completed credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary within ten (10) days of the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least two (2) days prior to the Credentials Committee meeting. No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the Adjournment of the Precinct Meeting. The Delegate List shall be made immediately available to any Republican candidate, at that candidate's reasonable expense, along with a confidentiality and use agreement that said list will be used only for Republican activities related to the candidates run for office.

Article VI

Amendments, Applicability, and Effectiveness of this Plan  A. Amendments to this Plan of Organization

1.    This Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the North Carolina Republican Party Plan of Organization or the Rules of the Republican National Committee, by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention provided, however, that the proposed amendment was mailed to the membership of the County Executive Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the County Convention. This mailing requirement shall not apply to the Report of the duly appointed Plan of Organization Committee, which shall provide its report in accordance with Article III.B.1.c of this Plan.

2.    Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to an amendment) which would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment must receive two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention.

B.  Applicability

This Plan of Organization is intended to extend to, and to establish organizations for, the Republican Party of the various towns and cities in Moore County as indivisible units of the Precinct and County Organizations.

C.   Authority

1.Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rules of Order, Current Edition, shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with this County Plan of Organization, State Plan of Organization, or Convention Rules properly adopted.

2.Gender and Number

The masculine pronoun or title herein includes the feminine, and the singular herein includes the plural, wherever appropriate.

D. Effective Date

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately following adjournment of the County Convention of March 29, 2008. This, however, shall not invalidate any action taken under the previous rules prior to the date above. The adoption of this Plan shall not effect the term of those Officers, Committee Members, and Executive Committee Members serving at the time of the adoption of this Plan.

2008 Plan of Organization Committee
(appointed 12 February 2008)

 

 

Bob Levy, Art Rimbert, Manila (Bud) Shaver, Ged Taylor, Bill Thurman