Headline-News   RSS   Links   Search   Archives    - 

 Home   Back   Forward   Top   Bottom 

  

 

Wake County Republican Party
Plan of Organization

(Adopted by the Wake County Republican Party 2007 Convention, March 20, 2007)

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Republican Party of Wake County, North Carolina, dedicated to the sound principles fostered by that 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 the people, and for all the people, do for the purpose of uniting and coordinating our efforts for maximum power and efficiency, herewith establish this instrument, The Plan of Organization of the Republican Party of Wake County.

ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP

All citizens of Wake County, North Carolina, who are registered Republicans are members of the Republican Party of Wake County, North Carolina, and shall have the right to participate in the official affairs of the Republican Party in accordance with these rules. All references herein to delegates, alternates, officers, and members shall, in all cases, mean persons identified and registered with the Wake County Board of Elections as Republicans in the precincts of their residence.

ARTICLE II
PRECINCT MEETINGS

1. Annual Precinct Meetings
            A. In every year, the County Chairman shall call precinct meetings during the month of February or the first ten days of March, and shall give at least ten (10) days' written notice of the time and place of holding same to each Precinct Chairman, and at least one week's notice of such meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County. Failure of the County Chairman to act in compliance with the provision above shall be cause for any member of the Executive Committee, with the approval of the Congressional District Chairmen, to call said precinct meetings by notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the County. Every Republican registered within a precinct 30 days prior to the precinct meeting and in attendance at said meeting shall be entitled to cast one vote, except that the 30-day requirement shall not apply to residents who have moved into the precinct within 30 days of the precinct meeting.
          If a precinct meeting is moved from the location designated by the County Chairman, the Precinct Chairman shall be responsible for complying with the procedure outlined below:
              (1) The Precinct Chairman shall designate one member of the precinct to station himself at the location for the precinct meeting originally designated by the County Chairman one-half hour prior to the designated meeting time. He shall direct those attending to the correct location and he shall remain at the originally designated location until the time for the precinct meeting to begin.
              (2) Upon the departure of the above-referenced individual, he shall leave prominently displayed a sign directing all who arrive late to the alternate location being used for the precinct meeting.
            B. Odd year precinct meetings, at which a quorum is one person, shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and as many members-at-large as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the precinct. Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold their places for two years or until their successors are chosen.
            C. Annual Precinct meetings shall elect one delegate and one alternate to the County Convention. They shall also elect one additional delegate for each 100 registered Republican voters in the precinct as of the preceding January 1st. Election of delegates and alternates to the County Convention must be by name, address, and telephone number; they must be qualified to vote in the meeting at which they are elected; and preference shall be given to the election of persons present at the meeting. There shall be no proxy voting.
            D. The 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. No other form or manner of certification shall be valid. Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the date specified by the County Chairman, which shall be at least two days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting unless the Precinct Meetings and the County Convention are held the same day. No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the Precinct Meeting.

2.  Other Precinct Meetings

            A. Other meetings of the Precinct general membership may be held at such time as shall be designated by the Chairman of the Precinct Committee after giving five (5) days notice of such meeting or upon the call of one-third of the members of the Precinct Committee, or ten (10) members of the general precinct membership. There shall be no proxy voting.
            B. If a Precinct fails to properly organize or the Precinct Chairman fails to act, the County Chairman shall appoint a temporary Precinct Chairman to serve until the next annual precinct meeting, at which time a new chairman may be elected.

ARTICLE III
PRECINCT COMMITTEE

1. Duties of Committee
            The Precinct Committee shall cooperate with the Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities; provide the County Chairman with a list of Party members within the Precinct qualified for appointment as election officials; and promote the objectives of the Party within the Precinct.
2. Duties of Officers
            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 his 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 Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. 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.
3. Meetings
Meetings of the Precinct Committee may be held at such times as shall be designated by the Chairman of the Precinct Committee after giving five (5) days notice of such meeting, or upon the call of one-third of the members of the Precinct Committee. There shall be no proxy voting.
4. Vacancies and Removals
             A. In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the Precinct, removal of any officers or members of the Precinct Committee, or other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the Precinct Committee. If the Precinct Committee fails to fill a vacancy within a reasonable period, the County Chairman may do so subject to approval by the Executive Committee.
            B. Any member of the Precinct Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Precinct Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than one-third of the members of the Precinct Committee and allowing him twenty (20) days to appear and defend himself; provided further that said cause for removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty or intentional failure to comply with the County or State Party Plans of Organization. Such removal may be appealed to the Executive Committee within twenty (20) days, and the decision of the Executive Committee shall be final.
            C. For the purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty", wherever stated, shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party.

ARTICLE IV
COUNTY CONVENTION

1. Call of the Convention
         A. A County Convention shall be called every year by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, at the County seat, within the month of March, at least 10 days after the annual precinct meetings and, at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and after giving fifteen (15) days notice of such Convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.
         B. At the time of the call of the convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee, which shall meet and issue its report on delegates and alternates certified to that convention at least three days in advance of the convening of the convention. All delegates challenged in the report of the Credentials Committee shall be notified prior to the day of the convention and allowed to present their cases to the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the convention. The delegates and alternates elected at the biennial precinct meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as delegates and alternates at the County Convention.
         C. 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 First Vice-Chairman to act in this capacity. The First Vice Chairman shall give five (5) days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and Executive Committee members and shall give ten (10) days notice thereof of such Convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the County. If the County Chairman or First Vice-Chairman does not call such a meeting, it shall be cause for any member of the Executive Committee, with the approval of all of the Chairmen of the Congressional Districts contained wholly or partially within Wake County, to call such a convention.
2. Convention Action
            A. Plan of Organization
            The County Convention shall adopt a written Plan of Organization not inconsistent with the State Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at County Headquarters and at State Headquarters.
            B. Elections
                        (1) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect as County Officers a Chairman, a First Vice-Chairman, a Second Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors are elected. These officers and the Immediate Past Chairman shall comprise the Executive Board of the Executive Committee. The County Chairman may appoint not more than two additional persons from the Executive Committee as ex officio members of the Executive Board.
                        (2) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect, in addition to the County Officers, five individuals to serve as voting members of the Executive Committee who shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors are elected.
                        (3) The County Convention shall elect one delegate and one alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus one additional delegate and alternate for every 200 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last general election in the County. The County Convention shall further elect one delegate and alternate for each Republican elected to the State General Assembly and to public office on the state or national level from the County in the last election held for that office. The delegate vote shall be prorated among the Congressional Districts in the County in accordance with the votes for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in the last election according to the political subdivisions of the Congressional Districts. In the election of delegates and alternates, preference shall be given to the election of persons present at the meeting. Only Republicans registered within Wake County at least 30 days prior to the biennial precinct meeting immediately prior to the County Convention may be elected delegates or alternates to Congressional District and State Conventions. There shall be no proxy voting.
                        (4) The precincts shall caucus at the County Convention by house districts, as defined by the General Assembly and the Wake County Board of Elections, and shall elect one member as the House District Chairman and two members as House District Vice-Chairman, all of whom shall serve on the Executive Committee. The caucus shall also elect a House District Secretary.
                                    (a) The terms of the House District Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary shall be for two years, or until their successors are elected. The House District Chairman, assisted by the Vice-Chairman and Secretary, shall coordinate precinct activities within the district and provide liaison between the County Chairman and the precinct chairmen.    
                                    (b) In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the House District (as then defined by the General Assembly and Wake County Board of Elections), or removal from office of the House District Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or Secretary, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the County Chairman, subject to approval by the Executive Committee. House District Chairmen, Vice-Chairman, and Secretaries may be removed pursuant to Article V, Section 5(B) of this Plan of Organization.
3. Credentials
            The Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Committee shall certify the election of officers, committee members, delegates and alternates to the District and State Conventions on forms furnished by the State Central Committee. Completed credentials shall be delivered to the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadline set by the State Chairman. No delegates or alternates shall be added to the credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention.
4.  Fee
            For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or Alternate to the State Convention, a fee set by the State Central Committee shall be paid by that Delegate or Alternate and forwarded to the State Party to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials.

ARTICLE V
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Membership
            A. The voting members of the Executive Committee shall consist of the County Officers; the five individuals elected by the County Convention in accordance with Article IV, Section 2(B)(2); the Immediate Past Chairman; Republican member(s) of the Wake County Board of Elections; 2nd Congressional District Chairman; 4th Congressional District Chairman; 13th Congressional District Chairman; Chairman of the Wake County Republican Women's Club; Chairman of the Wake County Republican Men's Club; Chairman of the Capital Area Republican Club; Chairman of the Cary Republican Women; chairmen of the Republican clubs at N.C. State University and Meredith College; Chairman of the Wake County Young Republican Club; Chairman of the Wake County Teenage Republican Club; Chairman of the Western Wake Republican Club; Chairman of the Triangle Republican National Hispanic Assembly; Chairman of the Northern Wake Republican Club; House District Chairmen and Vice-Chairman; and other members as specified in this Plan of Organization. Upon application to the County Chairman, and approval by the Executive Committee, representatives of other Republican clubs in Wake County shall become members of the Committee.
            B. The County Chairman shall appoint a Legal Counsel and Chairmen of the following Standing Committees: (1) Finance; (2) Organization; (3) Events; (4) Marketing and Public Relations; (5) Candidate Development and Recruitment; and (6) Get Out the Vote. The Legal Counsel and Standing Committee Chairmen shall be voting members of the Executive Committee and ex officio members of the Executive Board. The County Chairman, in consultation with the Standing Committee Chairmen, shall recommend for the Executive Committee's approval Standing Committee members.
            C. Nothing in this Plan of Organization should be construed as prohibiting any individual from being elected as an officer in more than one of the organizations described in Section A above. However, no individual by virtue of his election as an officer in one or more of such organizations shall be entitled to cast more than one vote during meetings of the Executive Committee. Any vote cast by such individual during meetings of the Executive Committee shall be considered cast on behalf of the organization in which such individual was first elected to the position entitling them to a vote on the Executive Committee. Voting by proxy for such individual on behalf of any other organization entitling that individual to a vote on the Executive Committee shall not be allowed. Rather, the Vice-Chairman of such organization shall be entitled to exercise the rights and privileges of Executive Committee membership on behalf of that organization during meetings of the Executive Committee.
            D. All duly elected Precinct Chairmen shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee.
            E. All duly elected public officials at the federal, state, county and municipal level who are residents of Wake County and registered in the County as Republicans shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee.
            F. Ex Officio membership of any committee or board entitles such member to participate in discussion and debate, including permission to advance any motion allowed by this Plan or Robert's Rules of Order, in connection with any matter considered by such committee or board. However, ex officio membership does not entitle any such member to vote on any motion or other business considered by such committee or board.
2. Powers and Duties
            A. The Executive Committee shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities; shall encourage qualified candidates within the County to run for elective office; shall adopt a budget each year; shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointment to the Wake County Board of Elections; and shall have active management of Party affairs within the County. The Executive Committee shall conduct such other actions as may be necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the Party, to include the formulation of fiscal policy, preparation of a budget (based upon a budget recommended by the County Chairman), annual review of the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan, and initiating all campaigns and coordinating them as determined feasible and in the best interest of the Republican Party in Wake County. The Executive Committee shall keep accurate accounts of its proceedings.
            B. The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the County Chairman and prior to each meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive Board shall formulate and promote the mission and goals of the Wake County Republican Party in accordance with the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan; exercise oversight of the authorization and expenditure of funds and the execution of contracts for services; and develop agendas for meetings of the Executive Committee. The Executive Board may approve expenditures of funds and contracts for services within dollar limits established by the Executive Committee. Actions by the Executive Board shall be subject to approval by the Executive Committee.
            C. The County Chairman and the First Vice-Chairman shall be ex-officio members of all committees.
3. Meetings
            The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year upon call of the County Chairman after giving ten (10) days notice to all members; or upon the similar call of one-third of the voting membership of the Committee. One-third of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. There shall be no proxy voting.
4. Duties of Officers
            A. The Chairman, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the County. He shall issue the call for Precinct Meetings, the County Convention and Executive Committee Meetings, and shall preside at all the meetings of the Executive Committee. He shall make the appointments as provided in this Plan of Organization and, in addition to the Standing Committees, may appoint ad hoc committees deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Executive Committee. He shall further appoint a temporary chairman of the county convention, who may be himself. He shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Wake County to the Congressional District Chairmen. He shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within Wake County and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District or State Committees. The County Chairman shall be an ex officio member of all committees. In addition to these duties, the Chairman shall annually prepare a Strategic Action Timeline based upon the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan. The Strategic Action Timeline shall be presented to the Executive Board for review and approval no later than March of each year. The County Chairman shall also prepare a proposed budget by March of each year. The proposed budget shall be based upon the goals outlined in the Strategic Action Timeline.
            B. The First Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee. The Committee Chairmen of the Finance, Candidate Development and Recruitment, and Marketing and Public Relations Standing Committees shall report directly to the First Vice-Chairman. The First Vice-Chairman shall be an ex officio member of all committees. The Second Vice-Chairman shall perform duties as prescribed by the Chairman. In addition, the Committee Chairmen of the Organization, Get out the Vote, and Events Standing Committees shall report directly to the Second Vice-Chairman.
            C. The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records and shall 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 Republican within the County. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congres­sional District Chairmen and to State Headquarters up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen.
            D. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the Executive Committee, shall make a financial report at all Executive Committee meetings and shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws. The Treasurer shall appoint an Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer's sole responsibility shall be to make the financial report in the absence of the Treasurer.
            E. The Standing Committee Chairmen shall adopt an annual Strategic Action Timeline and a proposed budget based upon that Timeline by February of each year. The Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget shall be presented to the respective Vice-Chairman overseeing that Committee for review. The Vice-Chairmen shall present the annual Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget to the County Chairman for use in preparing the Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget referenced in Article V, Section 4(A) of this Plan of Organization. 
5. Vacancies and Removals
            A. In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the County, removal from office of any officer of the Executive Committee, or other vacancy under the control of the Executive Committee, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by an election by the Executive Committee; except that immediately upon the office of Chairman becoming vacant, the First Vice-Chairman shall automatically succeed to the office of Chairman until such an election is held. In the event a current officer is elected Chairman, the Executive Committee shall elect new officers as needed to fill any vacancies.
            B. Any officer or member of the Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Committee after being fur­nished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than one-third of the members of the Committee and allowing him thirty (30) days to appear and defend himself; provided further that cause for removal shall be limited to gross inefficiency, party disloyalty, or intentional failure to act in compliance with the County or State Plans of Organization. Such removal may be appealed within twenty (20) days to the State Central Committee, whose decision shall be final.

ARTICLE VI
FINANCES AND AUDITING

1. Finance Committee
            The County Finance Committee shall be composed of the County Finance Chairman, the County Chairman, the County Vice-Chairman, the County Treasurer, and not less than three persons approved by the Executive Committee, as specified in Article V(1)(B). They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Fi­nance Committees and shall have active management of fund
raising efforts within the County.
2. Auditing Committee
            The Auditing Committee, appointed by the County Chairman, shall conduct a yearly audit of the financial records of the County and report such audit to the Executive Committee for approval.
3. Expenditures
            Any expenditures of funds, including signing contracts for services, must be authorized in advance by the Executive Committee; provided, however, that such expenditures or contracts may also be authorized by the County Chairman or Treasurer within dollar limits or other parameters or conditions established by the Executive Committee. Such dollar limits, parameters, or conditions may be adopted by the Executive Committee in the form of a standing policy. 

 
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL CONVENTION PROCEDURE

1. Annual Conventions and Presidential Election Year Conventions
            The County Conventions shall be called to order by the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, by the First Vice-Chairman or the Second Vice-Chairman, 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.
2. Voting Procedure
            No delegate, alternate or any other member of a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy. No precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected delegates on the floor at the County Convention at the time of the vote. No person shall be seated as a delegate or alternate unless such person shall have been duly elected a delegate or alternate by the appropriate precinct meeting; except, the registered Republican or Republicans present at the County Convention from an unorganized precinct which has not had its credentials accepted shall have the right to vote one vote per precinct, pro-rated fractionally among those present from that precinct. Only delegates present on the floor are eligible to vote.
3. Special Conventions
            The Executive Committee, in the interests of the Republican Party, may direct the County Chairman to issue calls for special organizational meetings and special County Conventions. The procedure for calling regular meet­ings and conventions shall apply to the calling of special meetings and conventions so far as applicable and not inconsistent with this Plan of Organization.
4. Newspaper of General Circulation
            Notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County for the purpose of this Plan of Organization shall include either a paid advertisement or a news item, provided it includes the time, date, location and purpose of the meeting. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice.
5. Challenges
            Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan of Organization, challenges to the seating of delegates and alternates must be made individually. Successful challenges shall not affect the seating of other delegates and alternates in the same precinct delegation unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of evidence that challenged delegates and alternates would not otherwise have been elected but for the votes of the unqualified delegates or alternates.
6. General Election Procedure
            Notwithstanding any other article in this Plan of Organization, the allocated delegate slots and then the allocated alternate slots allotted under the Plan of Organization to a precinct or a county shall be filled first by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote, present at such meeting or convention, and desiring to be elected to fill such slots. No one shall be eligible for election as a delegate or alternate who is not present at the meeting or convention where such delegates or alternates are elected to the exclusion of another duly qualified, registered Republican who is present and wishes to be elected as a delegate or alternate.

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

1. Primary Campaigns
            A. While participation in Republican Party primaries is encouraged, Wake County Republican Party precinct officers and Executive Committee members shall not allow their titles or positions to be used in support of one primary candidate over another except as provided in Paragraph B, below.
            B. Except as provided in paragraph 2(B), below, while acting in their official capacities, precinct officers and Executive Committee members shall provide the same support and aid to all primary candidates such that a candidate does not have an unfair advantage by having exclusive use of the party organization.
            C. Executive Board members shall not chair or co-chair a primary campaign.
2. Endorsements in Non-Partisan Elections
          A. In non-partisan elections, Congressional district executive committees and the County Executive Committee have exclusive authority to endorse registered Republicans running in Wake County. The County Executive Committee shall not issue endorsements in non-partisan races unless the District resides entirely within the County. All members of the County Executive Committee may vote on the non-partisan endorsements for districts wholly encompassed within that county, regardless of whether Committee members live within the District in question.
          B. In non-partisan, statewide judicial elections, the NCGOP State Executive Committee has exclusive authority to endorse registered Republicans. The County Executive Committee shall not issue endorsements of non-partisan, statewide judicial candidates inconsistent with the State Executive Committee endorsements
          C. With respect to any endorsement provided for in this section and unless otherwise provided by law, notice to committee members of the time, date, location, and purpose of the meeting at which any such endorsement will be considered must be made by United States Mail to the last known address of the committee member. Notice must be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting, unless good cause exists for shortening the time period. In no case may the meeting be scheduled for a time and date less than five (5) days after the notice to committee members. Such notice shall also be provided to all registered Republicans who are candidates seeking the office for which the endorsement is made.

ARTICLE IX
APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN

1. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceed­ings except when inconsistent with this County Plan of Organization or Convention Rules properly adopted.
2. Amendment
            (a) Except as provided in section (b) below, this Plan of Organization may be amended not inconsistent with the State Plan of Organization by majority vote of the delegates present and voting at any annual County Convention; provided, however, that the definition of house districts shall be considered revised to correspond to redistricting by the General Assembly or to changes in precincts enacted by the Wake County Board of Elections.
            (b) In the event that it is determined that the County Plan of Organization is not consistent with the State Plan of Organization, the Executive Committee must at the next meeting amend the County Plan of Organization such that it is not inconsistent with the State Plan of Organization. Under no circumstance shall such amendment not be completed within 90 days of a determination that the County Plan of Organization is not consistent with the State Plan of Organization.
3. Effective Date of This Plan

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately upon ratification.
Adopted March 20, 2007, by the 2007 Convention of the Wake County Republican Party
 

T.E.A.C.H To REACH
Hit Counter
The National Debt

Stop Taxing Our Kids!

Get Involved Today!