ROCKINGHAM COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
MARCH 13, 2010
PREAMBLE
We the members of the Republican Party of Rockingham 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 Republic; and toward the restoration of the “Principle of the Sovereign Citizen” first identified in the Declaration of Independence, and later codified in the US and NC Constitutions and Bills of Rights and that our 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 Rockingham County.
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
A. MEMBERS
All citizens of Rockingham County who are registered Republicans are members of the Republican Party of Rockingham 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.
ARTICLE II
PRECINCT ORGANIZATION
- ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS
1. Call for Meeting
The County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings every year during the month of February or the first ten (10) days of March, after giving notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County which 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 newspaper at least ten (10) days prior to the Meeting. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice. 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 a newspaper of general circulation within the County. Every Republican registered prior to January 31 preceding the Meeting shall be entitled to cast one (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
At 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 offices for two (2) years or until their successors are chosen. There shall be no proxy voting.
3. Election of Delegates
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 each 100 registered Republican voters, or major fraction thereof, in the precinct as of January 1 of that year.
4. Duties of Officers
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. Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least two (2) days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting, unless the Precinct Meetings and the County Convention are held on the same day. 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 time as shall be designated by the Chairman of the Precinct Committee after giving five (5) days notice of such Meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County, or by such other method of notification as may be specified in the County Plan of Organization; or upon similar call of one-third (1/3) of the Members of the Precinct Committee, or ten (10) Members of the general Precinct Membership. There shall be no proxy voting.
b. In the event a Precinct fails to properly organize or the Precinct Chairman fails to act, the County Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Precinct Chairman who shall serve until a general Membership Meeting can be called and a new Chairman elected.
B. PRECINCT COMMITTEE
1. Duties of Committee
The Precinct Committee shall cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities, provide the County Chairman with a list of Party Members within the Precinct suitable 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 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. 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. Vacancies and Removals
a. Vacancy 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, shall be filled by the remaining Members of the Precinct Committee, or as provided in the County Plan of Organization.
b. Any member of the Precinct Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Precinct Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than one-third (1/3) 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 failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization. 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. ANNUAL 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 the county, within the month of March, at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and following procedures given in Article IV, Section 3.
b. At the time of the call of the Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee, which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least three (3) days in advance of the convening of the Convention, unless a County holds its Precinct Meetings and County Convention 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 successfully challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to 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 Vice-Chairman to act in this capacity. The Vice-Chairman shall give 5 days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article IV, Section 3. 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 County Convention.
2. Convention Action
a. The County Convention shall adopt or amend a written County Plan of Organization not inconsistent with this State Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at County Headquarters and at State Headquarters. Failure to comply may result in the County Delegation not being seated at the State Convention by the Credentials Committee. Failure of a County Republican Party to submit a County Plan to the NCGOP State Headquarters, within 30 days of its adoption, by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, shall constitute agreement by the County Party to adopt the State Plan of Organization for that county.
b. Elections
i. In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman and Vice- Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other Officers as may be deemed necessary, who shall serve for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected.
ii. In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall approve a County Executive Committee to consist of the County Officers, all Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and the Chairs of all recognized County Republican auxiliary groups who shall hold their places for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected. The County Executive Committee may elect additional Members to the County Executive Committee in addition to those Members of the County Executive Committee approved by the County Convention.
iii. The County Convention shall elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 250 Republicans, or major fraction thereof, registered in that county, as of January 1 of that year. Each County shall further elect 1 Delegate and Alternate for each Republican elected to the state legislature and to public office on the state or national level from said County in the last election held for that office. With respect to the District Convention, the additional 1 delegate and 1 alternate shall only be elected to the District Convention being held in the District in which said Republican elected to the state legislature and to public office on the state or national level actually lives.
iv. If a County has been divided between 2 or more Congressional Districts, it shall prorate its Delegate vote among these Congressional Districts in accordance with the Republican registration as of January 1 of that year in the political subdivisions within the County which have been divided among the different Congressional Districts. Delegates elected to a Congressional District Convention, in addition to the other qualifications which they must meet, must reside in the Congressional District to whose Convention they are elected. The Delegates to the County Convention from the political subdivisions in different Congressional Districts shall elect the Delegates to their own Congressional District Convention.
3. Credentials
The Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, Delegates, Alternates and Precinct Chairs to the District and State Conventions, on forms furnished by the State Central Committee and in conformance with the State Plan of Organization Article VII. 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 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. No Delegates or Alternates shall be added to the Credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention. Copies of all newspaper notices, in addition to a list of county and precinct officers, shall be submitted to the NC Republican Party and all applicable Congressional District Committees along with County Credentials.
4. Convention Fee
For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or an Alternate to the State Convention, the County shall forward to the State Party a fee ($1.00) set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to such elected Delegates and Alternates.
B. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Membership
The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Officers, all Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs, and the Chairs of all recognized County Republican auxiliary groups and other persons elected by the County Executive Committee in accordance with Article III A.2, and the County Finance Chairman.
2. Powers and Duties
The County Executive Committee shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities; shall encourage qualified candidates for office within the County; shall adopt a budget; and shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments for County Board of Election; and shall have active management of Party affairs within the County. It shall approve a Finance Committee and an Auditing Committee of not less than three (3) Members each, and may approve such other Committees as may be deemed necessary. The County Chairman and Vice-Chairmen shall be Ex-officio Members of all Committees indicated in this paragraph, unless otherwise noted. In the event that it is determined that the County Plan of Organization is not consistent with the State Party Plan of Organization, the County Executive Committee must at the next called meeting bring the County Plan of Organization into compliance with the State Party Plan of Organization. Under any circumstances, the County Plan of Organization must be brought into compliance within 90 days.
3. Meetings
The County 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 similar call of one-third (1/3) of the Members of the Committee. One-fourth (1/4) of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. There shall be no proxy voting.
4. Duties of Officers
a. The Chairman of the County Executive Committee, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the County. He shall issue the call for Annual Precinct Meetings, the County Convention, and Executive Committee meetings, and shall preside at all meetings of the County Executive Committee. He shall appoint a Finance Chairman, Auditing Committee, a newsletter editor, and any other chairmen deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee. He shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention, who may be himself except in odd years when officers are being elected. He shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Rockingham County to the District Chairman. He shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every precinct within Rockingham County. He shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within Rockingham 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 unless otherwise designated.
b. The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, shall be responsible for precinct organization, shall maintain the records of the various subcommittees, shall maintain a permanent database of all registered voters in Rockingham County and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-Officio" member of all committees unless otherwise designated.
c. The Second Vice-Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, shall be responsible for all events, promotions and fundraising of the Rockingham County Republican Party, and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee. The Second Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-Officio" member of all committees unless otherwise designated.
d. 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 Rockingham County. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chairman and to the State Headquarters, up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen.
e. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the County Executive Committee, shall make a financial report at all County Executive Committee meetings and shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal Election Laws.
f. The Assistant Treasurer may be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall assist the Treasurer in all duties, shall function as Treasurer in the absence of the Treasurer, and may have such other duties as assigned by the Chairman.
5. Vacancies and Removals
a. Vacancy due to death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the County, removal of any Officer or Member of the County Executive Committee, or for any other reason, shall be filled by the remaining members of the County Executive Committee.
b. Any officer or member of the County Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the respective Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than one-third (1/3) of the members of the 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 failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization. Such removal may be appealed within twenty (20) days to the State Central Committee, and their decision shall be final.
For purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty" shall be defined as supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party.
C. COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEES
1. Finance Committee
The County Finance Committee shall be composed of the County Finance Chairman, the County Chairman, County Vice-Chairman, the County Treasurer, and not less than three (3) persons approved by the County Executive Committee. They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees and shall have active management of fund-raising efforts within Rockingham County.
2. Auditing Committee
The members of the Auditing Committee shall be nominated by the County Chairman and the names shall be presented for the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee. The Auditing Committee, once approved, shall conduct a yearly review of the financial records of the County and report such review to the County Executive Committee for approval. The review to be conducted shall be of the type and nature which the Auditing Committee, in its discretion, deems appropriate.
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURE
A. CONVENTION PROCEDURES
1. Annual Conventions
a. The County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman, or in the absence of the 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 a 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 credentials committees 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
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. No person shall be seated as a Delegate at the County, District or State Convention unless such person shall have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct meeting or County Convention; except, the registered 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 1 vote per precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.
3. 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. Such notices shall appear in the newspaper at least 10 days prior to the Meeting or Convention. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice.
4. Challenges
Not withstanding any other provisions of this Plan of Organization challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made in their capacity as individual Delegates. The successful challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made individually as to their capacity as Delegates and Alternates. The successful challenges of individuals in their capacity as Delegates and Alternates shall not affect the seating of other Delegates and Alternates in the same precinct Delegates unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the previous election of such successfully challenged Delegates and Alternates resulted in the election of other Delegates and Alternates within such delegation who would not otherwise have been elected, but for the votes of the unqualified Delegates or Alternates.
5. General Election Procedure
Notwithstanding any other Article in this Plan of Organization, the allocated Delegate slots and then the allocated Alternate slots allotted under this 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 fill such slots. All duly qualified Republicans registered to vote may be elected by qualified Republicans attending the meeting to fill slots that have not been filled by Republicans attending the meeting or conventions. No one shall be eligible for or elected as a Delegate or Alternate to any convention who is not present at the meeting or convention where such Delegates or Alternates are elected to the exclusion of a duly qualified republican registered to vote, present at such meeting or convention and desiring to be elected first as a Delegate or then as an Alternate.
6. Rules as to Counties and Precincts
The Precinct and County Committees and County Conventions, are authorized to promulgate such additional rules and establish such additional Party Officers or Committees for their respective organizations, not inconsistent with these rules, as shall be deemed necessary. Counties may establish Executive Boards to transact the business of the Party between County Executive Committee Meetings.
B. 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 Republican State Headquarters.
C. 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, staff or member of the Party shall cause the Party to undertake a loan without the prior approval of the Executive Committee.
3. Budgeted Expenses
No County officer, or member of the Party shall exceed approved total budgeted expenditures without approval from the Executive Committee. Any officer of the County organization can sign for approved routine budgeted expenses. All County contributions to candidates must have approval of the County Executive Committee.
4. Leases
All leases must be approved by the County Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V
AMENDMENTS, AUTHORITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN
A. AMENDMENTS TO PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
1. The Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the Rules of the State Plan of Organization, by 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, elected at the preceding County Convention, at least thirty days prior to the convening of the Convention. This mailing requirement shall not apply to the Report of the duly appointed Plan of Organization Committee.
2. Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to the amendment) which would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention. This paragraph applies only to amendments to Amendments to the Plan that were mailed out to the Executive Committee as above described.
3. Proposed amendments to the Plan not mailed to the State Executive Committee thirty days prior to the convening of the State Convention must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention.
4. Plan of Organization Committees shall have authority to correct any spelling or typographical errors in the Plan of Organization, as a housekeeping matter, that do not change the substance of the Plan.
5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this County Plan of Organization, in the event that there is a change in state or federal election law that renders a portion of this Plan ineffective, obsolete or inoperative, the Executive Committee may, upon a two-thirds majority vote, temporarily amend this Plan to the extent necessary to alter procedures or schedules affected by such change in state or federal election law. Any change made pursuant to this paragraph shall be effective only until the date of adjournment of the next annual County Convention called pursuant to this Plan, Article IV A 1 a.
B. AUTHORITY
1. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with the County 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.
B. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN
This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rule, except as specifically noted, immediately following adjournment of the Rockingham County Convention in Wentworth, North Carolina on March 13, 2010. This, however, shall not invalidate any action taken under the previous rules prior to the date above.
County Chairman________________________________ Secretary _____________________________________
2010 County Convention 
