REPUBLICAN PARTY OF DARE COUNTY
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

Adopted March 15, 2007 

PREAMBLE 

We, the Members of the Republication Party of Dare 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 of 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 this instrument, the Plan of Organization of the Dare County Republication Party of North Carolina. 

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP

1. MEMBERS 
All Citizens of Dare County who are registered Republican are Members of the Dare County Republican Party of North Carolina 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 an office within the North Carolina state, district legislative, county or precinct Republican Party shall be a resident of the jurisdiction in which he seeks office. 

ARTICLE II – PRECINCT ORGANIZATION 

1. ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS 

A. Call for Meeting
In every year, the County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings during the month of February or the first 15 days of March, after giving 10 days written notice to each Precinct Chairman and by notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the County as provided for in Article VII.A.4 of the North Carolina Republican Party Plan of Organization (NC Plan), and the Precinct Chairs also be informed as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the county convention, and in accordance with Article VII.A.4 (NC Plan).  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 as provided for in article VII.A.4 (NC Plan).  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. 

B. E lection of Precinct Officers
At odd-numbered year Precinct Meetings, at which a quorum is one person, attendees 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 2 years or until their successors are chosen.  There shall be no proxy voting. 

C. 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.  

Notwithstanding any other Article in this Plan of Organization, the Delegate slots and then the Alternate slots allotted under this Plan of Organization to a Precinct shall be filled first by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote, present at such Meeting and desiring to be elected to fill such slots.  No one shall be eligible for or elected as a Delegate or Alternate to any Convention who is not present at the Meeting where such Delegates or Alternates are elected to the exclusion of a duly qualified, registered Republican eligible to vote, present at such meeting and desiring to be elected first as a Delegate or then as an Alternate.  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.  

D.  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 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. 

2. OTHER PRECINCT MEETINGS

A. Other Meetings of the Precinct General Membership may be held at such times as may be designated by the Chairman of the Precinct Committee after giving 5 days notice of such Meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County; by written or electronic notification to giving 5 days prior notice; or upon similar call of 1/3 of the Members of the Precinct Committee, or 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 for a period not to exceed 30 days, during which time a general Membership Meeting shall be called and a new Chairman elected. 

ARTICLE III - 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.  

B.   The procedure for removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article VII.A.7 (NC Plan).  Such removal may be appealed to the County Executive Committee within twenty (20) days and their decision shall be final. 

C. For the purposes of this Plan of Organization, “Party disloyalty” 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 ORGANIZATION

 

1.   ANNUAL CONVENTION

A. Call to Convention

A County Convention shall be called in 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 the procedures given in Article VII.A.4 (NC Plan) At the time of the call of the Convention, the County Chairman, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Credentials Committee, consisting of no less than three people, 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 the 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 Precinct Meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.
 
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 VII.A.4 (NC Plan).  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.

B.  Convention Action

i.   Plan of Organization
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 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 the 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 the county.

ii.  Elections
a.   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 two (2) years or until their successors are elected.

b.   In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a County Executive Committee of 5 voters, in addition to the County Officers, who shall hold their places for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.  The County Executive Committee may elect additional Members of the County Executive Committee in addition to those Members of the County Executive Committee elected by the County Convention.

c.   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 the 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.

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  Congressional District and State Conventions shall be filled first by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote, present at such Convention and desiring to be elected to fill such slots.  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, registered Republican eligible to vote, present at such meeting or convention, and desiring to be elected first as a delegate or then as an alternate. 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.

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

e.   There shall be no proxy voting.        

C.    Credentials
The Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, Delegates and Alternates and Precinct Chairs, on forms furnished by the State Central Committee and in conformance with Article VII (NC Plan).  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 the list of county and precinct officers, shall be submitted to the NC Republican Party and all applicable Congressional District Committees along with County Credentials.

D.  Convention Fee
For each person who is elected at a Dare County Republican Convention to be either a Delegate or an Alternate to the State Convention, the County shall forward to the State Party the fee set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to such elected Delegates and Alternates.  The County Party may recover this fee from the Delegates and Alternates following their election.

ARTICLE V - COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  

1. Membership
The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Officers and other persons elected by the County Convention in accordance with Article III A.2, and the County Finance Chairman. 

All Precinct Chairmen shall be Ex-Officio Members of the County Executive Committee with a vote at such meetings as attended.  However, attendance or absence at said meetings shall not count towards a quorum. 

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 Republican candidates for office within the County; shall adopt a budget; and shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments for the 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 3 members each, and may approve such other Committees as may be deemed necessary.  The County Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be Ex-Officio Members of all Committees indicated in this paragraph. In the event that it is determined that the Dare 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.  The County Executive Committee may amend the Dare County Plan of Organization upon a 2/3 vote after providing written notice via first class United States Mail of the meeting advising members regarding the substance of the proposed amendment and provided a quorum is present.  County Republican Parties shall submit, by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, their county plans of organization, and amendments thereto, to the NCGOP State Headquarters within 30 days after their adoption, in order for the Plan and/or amendment to be considered valid. 

3. Meetings
The County Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly upon call of the County Chairman after giving 10 days notice to all Members; or upon similar call of 1/3 of the Members of the Committee.  One-third (1/3) 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.  The Chairman shall issue the call for Precinct Meetings and the County Convention, and Executive Committee Meetings, and shall preside at all the Meetings of the County Executive Committee.  The Chairman shall appoint the Finance Chairman, Auditing Committee (subject to the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee), and any other Chairmen deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee.  The Chairman shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention, who may be himself.  The Chairman shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Dare County to the District Chairman.  The Chairman shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every Precinct within Dare County.  The Chairman shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within Dare 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 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 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 Dare County.  The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chairman 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 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. 

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 Committee, or for any other reason, shall be filled by the remaining members of the County Committee. 

B.  The procedure for removal of any Member of Officer is defined in Article VII A.7 (NC Plan).  Such removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within 20 days and their decision shall be final. 

C.   For the purposes of the Plan of Organization, "Party Disloyalty" shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a candidate of the Republican Party or a Republican endorsed by the appropriate Executive Committee in a non-partisan election. 

D. Any member of the Executive Committee who runs for political office at the local, state, or national level shall resign from their position on the date their candidacy is filed with the Board of Election Supervisors.  The Executive Committee shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. 

ARTICLE VI - COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEES

1. Finance Committee
The County Finance Committee shall be composed of the Dare County Finance Chairman, the Dare County Chairman, Dare County Vice-Chairman, the Dare County Treasurer, and not less than three persons approved by the Dare County Executive Committee.  They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees and shall have active management of fund-raising efforts within Dare County. 

2. Auditing Committee
The Auditing Committee, consisting of a minimum of three Republican Party members who are not a member of the Executive Committee, nominated by the County Chairman and presented for the advise and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall conduct a yearly review of the financial records of the Dare County Republican Party and report such review to the Dare 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 VII - AMENDMENTS TO PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

1.   The Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican State or National Committees, 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 odd-numbered year County Convention, at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the Convention. The mailing requirement shall not apply to the Report of the duly appointed Plan of Organization Committee, which shall be noticed pursuant to Section VI.A.3.b (NC Plan) 

2.   Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to the amendment) that would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds  vote of the delegates present and voting.  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 County Executive Committee thirty days prior to the convening of the County Convention must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention.

4. The Plan of Organization Committee 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.

 

Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern all procedures.

ARTICLE IX - EFFECTIVE DATE

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately following the adjournment of the Dare County Republican Convention in Kill Devil Hills, NC, March 15, 2007.  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 office holders at the time of the adoption of this Plan. 

Adopted by the Dare County Republican Convention assembled in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, this 15th day of March, 2007.  Attest: 

George Embrey, Chairman           Leila Brooks, Secretary