FORSYTH COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
Adopted March 24, 2007
PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE II – PRECINCT ORGANIZATION
- ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS
- Call for Meeting
- Elections of Precinct Officers
- Elections of Delegates
- Duties of Officers
- Other Precinct Meetings
- PRECINCT COMMITTEE
- Duties of Committee
- Duties of Officers
- Vacancies and Removals
ARTICLE III – COUNTY ORGANIZATONS
- ANNUAL CONVENTION
- Call of Convention
- Convention Action
- Credential
- Convention Fee
- COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Membership
- Powers and Duties
- Meetings
- Duties of Officers
- Vacancies and Removals
- CENTRAL COMMITTEE
- COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEES
- Finance Committee
- Auditing Committee
ARTICLE IV – JUDICIAL,SENATORIAL,& LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
- GENERAL ORGANIZATION
- Membership
- Election of Officers
- Powers and Duties of Committees
ARTICLE V – GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
- Annual Conventions and Presidential Election Year Conventions
- Voting Procedure
- Special Meetings and Conventions
- Newspaper of General Circulation
- Challenges
- General Election Procedure
- Vacancies and Removals
- Non-Partisan Candidates and Office Holders
- FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
- Records
- Loans
- Budgeted Expenses
- Leases
- APPOINTMENTS
- Notification
- Filling Vacancies
- FORFEITURE OF OFFICIAL PRIVILEGES
- Removal or Resignation from Committees
- Party Disloyalty
- REFRAIN FROM UTILIZING POWERS OF OFFICE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
- ENDORSEMENT IN PARTISAN ELECTIONS
- ENDORSEMENTS IN NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS, APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN
- AMENDMENTS TO PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
- APPLICABILITY
- Rules as to towns and cities
- Rules as to Counties and Districts
- AUTHORITY
- Controversies
- Parliamentary Authority
- Gender and Number
- EFFECTIVE DATE
- Effective date of this Plan
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Republican Party of Forsyth County, North Carolina dedicated to the sound principles fostered by that party, conscious of our civic responsibilities and rights, form 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 this instrument, the Plan of Organization of the Republican Party of Forsyth County, North Carolina.
ARTICLE I
A. MEMBERSHIP
All citizens of Forsyth County who are registered Republicans are Members of the Republican Party of Forsyth County 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 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 MEETINGS
1. Call for Meeting
In every year, the County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings during the month of February or the first 10 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 V.A.4., 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 V.A.4. 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 with the County as provided for in Article V.A.4. Every Republican registered prior to January 31 preceding the meetings 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, 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.
3. Election of Delegates
The annual Precinct Meetings shall elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to the County Convention. They shall also elect one (1) additional Delegate and Alternate for each 100 or fewer registered Republican voters 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 in the precinct under this calculation, a basis number of registered Republican voters less than 100 should be used while assuring proportional representation of all registered Republican voters in the county. Generally, the County Secretary will advise each Precinct Chairman of the appropriate proportions to be used.
4. Duties of Officers
The Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention, on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman. Complete credential 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 Credential 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 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 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 Precinct Chairman who shall serve until a general Membership Meeting is called and a new Chairman is 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. Vancancy 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. The procedure for removal of any Member of Officer is defined in Article V.A.7. Such removal maybe appealed to the County Executive Committee within 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 10 days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and following procedures in Article V.A.4.
b. 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 (3) people, which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least two (2) 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 five (5) days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article V.A.4. 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 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 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 a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.
ii.The Forsyth County Executive Committee shall consist of the following:
a.The County Officers, i.e. the County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer;
b. The Chairman of the Precinct Committee in each Precinct, whether elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Plan of Organization;
c. The Chairman or President from each of the following organizations selected in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws of those Organizations, referred to herein as “Constituent Organizations”:
1. The Forsyth County Republican Women
2. Forsyth County Young Republican Club
3. Forsyth County Men’s Club
4. Wake Forrest University College Republican Club
5. Salem College Republicans
6. North Carolina School of the Arts College Republican Club
iii. The County Convention shall elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to the Congressional and State Conventions, plus one (1) additional Delegate and Alternate for every 250 Republicans or major fraction thereof, registered in that County, as of January 1 of that year. The County Party 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 said County in the last election held for that office.
iv. Forsyth County has been divided between 2 or more Congressional Districts; therefore it shall prorate its Delegate vote among these Congressional Districts in accordance with the Republican registration as of January1 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 Article V. Completed Credentials shall be in the hands of the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadlines 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. Copies of all newspaper notices 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 set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to such elected Delegates and Alternates. The Forsyth County Republican Party may recover this fee from the Delegates and Alternates following their election.
B. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Membership
The County Executive Committee shall consist of all those listed in Article III A.2.b.ii. No individual shall have more than one vote on the County Executive Committee and all individuals must be legal voting age.
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 the County Board of Elections; 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-Chairman shall be Ex-officio Members of all Committees indicated in this paragraph. 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. The County Executive Committee may amend the County Plan of Organization upon a 2/3 vote after providing notice of the meeting advising members regarding the substance of the proposed amendment and provided a quorum is present.
3. Meetings
The County Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year 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. The quorum for the transaction of business shall be 25%. 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 meetings of the County Executive Committee. The Chairman shall appoint a Finance Chairman, Auditing Committee (subject to the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee) and any other Chairman 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 his County to the District Chairman. The Chairman shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every Precinct within his County. The Chairman shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within the 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 in the County Plan of Organization.
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 in the County Plan of Organization.
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 Chairman and to the 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.
e. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer with the preparation of financial reports to be given at all County Executive Committee meetings and shall assist the Treasurer in preparing all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election law. The Assistant Treasurer shall not have any authority to disburse funds on behalf of the Party and shall not have any authority to sign checks on behalf of the Party.
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 Committtee.
b. The procedure for removal of any Member or officer is defined in Article V.A.7. Such removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within 20 days and their decision shall be final
C. CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The Central Committee shall be defined as follows;
a. All elected officers of the Forsyth County Republican Party;
b. Chairman/President of Constituent Organization as defined in Article III 2.b.ii
c. All appointed Committee Chairmen, with the exception of those appointed for special convention business.
D. COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEE
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 the 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 Party 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
JUDICIAL, SENATORIAL, AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
A. GENERAL ORGANIZATION
1. Membership
a. In a single County District the County Executive Committee shall serve as the District Committee.
b. In a single County containing more than one (1) District wholly within the County, the County Plan of Organization shall address the method of election of District Officers.
c. In those Districts encompassing more than one (1) County, or portions of more than one County, voting Membership shall consist of County Executive Committee Members residing within that District, if any or there being none, it shall be one (1) or more persons residing within that District as appointed by the County Chairman, and approved by the County Executive Committee. Unless the voting Membership consists of the Precinct Chairmen residing within that District, voting is to be weighted based on the number of registered Republicans in each County.
d. In those counties that are divided into two (2) or more multi-county Legislative, Judicial, or Senatorial Districts, the County Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall appoint, with the approval of the County Executive Committee, designees to serve on the District Executive Committee for Districts in which the County Chairman or the Vice- Chairman do not reside.
e. All District Officers shall reside within their Districts.
2. Election of Officers
At some time preceding the State Convention, the District Committees shall meet at a time and place designated by the Congressional District Chairman. If the District is split between two (2) Congressional Districts, the County Chairman designated by the Congressional District Chairman of the Congressional District in which the greater part of the District population lies shall call the Meeting. The Meeting shall elect a Chairman and such other Officers as may be deemed necessary. The Officers shall have such duties as may be prescribed by the State Executive Committee. The Chairman shall report to the State Chairman names of the Officers elected.
3. Powers and Duties of Committees
a. The Judicial District Committee shall encourage qualified candidates for District Attorney, District Court Judge and Superior Court Judge and shall assist and cooperate with the County and State Executive Committees in all campaigns.
b. The Senatorial District Committee shall encourage qualified candidates for State Senate and shall assist and cooperate with the County and State Executive Committees in all campaigns.
c. The Legislative District Committee shall encourage qualified candidates for State House of Representatives and shall assist and cooperate with the County and State Executive Committees in all campaigns.
d. Committees herein elected shall serve as the appropriate District Executive Committee as they are referred to in the North Carolina General Statutes §163-114.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
A. CONVENTION PROCEDURES
1. Annual Convention
a. The County Convention shall be called to order by the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, by the Vice-Chairman or Secretary, in order slated, 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 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 at any County 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(s), present at a County Convention from an unorganized Precinct, which has not had its credentials accepted, shall have the right vote one (1) vote per Precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.
c. No Delegate, Alternate or any other Member of a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy; provided, however, that when not inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican National Committee, any Delegate or Delegates present shall have the right to cast the entire vote of the County in District and State Conventions.
d. Ex-officio members of the Committees have the same voting rights as the other Committee Members, and 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/her to such membership, his/her membership terminates automatically.
3. Special Meeting and Conventions
The County Central Committee, at any time, in the interests of the Forsyth County Republican Party may direct the County Chairman or request the Congressional District Chairman to issue a call for a Special Senatorial, Judicial or Legislative Organization Meeting and Special County and Congressional District Convention. 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 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.
5. Challenges
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan of Organization, challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made in the capacity as individual Delegates. The successful challenges individuals in their capacity as Delegates and Alternates shall not affect the seating of other Delegates and Alternates in the same Precinct or County unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the previous election of such successfully challenged Delegates and Alternates resulted in election of other Delegates and Alternates within such Delegation who would no 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 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 to 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. The County may provide in its Plan of Organization that only persons actually present are eligible for election as Delegates or Officers.
7. Vacancies and Removals
a. Any Member of a Committee organized under this Plan may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the respective Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than 25, 1/3 of the Members of the Committee, whichever is the lesser. 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.
b. For the purpose 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 candidate of the Republican Party or a Republican endorsed by the appropriate Executive Committee in a non- partisan election.
8. Non-Partisan Candidates and Office Holders
The Forsyth County Republican Party shall not offer an opportunity for a candidate for, or current office holder of, a “non-partisan office” who is no a Registered Republican to address a Republican Convention or other function sponsored by the North Carolina Republican Party or any of its subdivisions.
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, Assistant Treasurer and Finance Chairman of the County Party 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 County Officer, staff or member of the Party shall cause the Party to undertake a loan without the prior approval of the Central Committee.
3. Budgeted Expenses
No County Officer, or staff member of the Party shall exceed approved total budgeted expenditures without approval for the Central Committee.
4. Leases
No County Officer, or staff member of the Party shall commit the Party to a lease in excess of $5,000 dollars or 90 days without the approval of the Central Committee.
D. APPOINTMENTS
1. Notifications
It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to transmit notice of known vacancies on a County or District level to those persons having jurisdiction over such appointments.
2. Filling Vacancies
a. When a vacancy occurs in a governmental office for which a Party recommendation is called for, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina and the terms of this Plan. The abovementioned recommendations shall be provided by the Committee having jurisdiction over the District which is the subject of the vacancy.
b. In multi-county offices or state legislative offices, the responsibility for calling the meeting rests with the State Chairman. The State Chairman may delegate this authority to the appropriate district or county chairman or the Congressional District Chairman if the County or Congressional district, as the case may be, encompasses all the district or county in which the vacancy occurs.
c. Unless otherwise provided by law, notice to committee members of the time, date, location and purpose of the meeting at which a recommendation for filling the vacancy will be considered, must be made by U.S. 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 date and time less than five (5) days after the mailing of the notice to committee members.
d. In those cases where the State Chairman or by appointment, the County, District or Congressional District Chairman calls the meeting, the State Chairman shall designate the person to chair the meeting. The vote shall be conducted n a method reasonably calculated to assure accuracy and fairness to all potential candidates for the position.
E. FORFEITURE OF OFFICIAL PRIVILEGES
- Removal or Resignation from Committees
Any current or former Officer or Member of a Precinct Committee, County Executive Committee, or District Committee, for any reason, is removed or resigned from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way connected with that position.
- Party Disloyalty
Any registered Republican attempting to influence or influencing the outcome of any election against a Republican candidate or Republican endorsed by the appropriate Republican Executive Committee or Legislative Caucus, other than by supporting an opposing Republican Candidate in a Republican primary, may be declared ineligible to hold office under the County Plan of Organization at the County, District, and Precinct level for Party Disloyalty by a 2/3 vote of the County Executive Committee. Charges of Party Disloyalty may be brought by petition of 25 members or 1/3 of the County Executive Committee. The County Executive Committee may declare a Republican found to have engaged in Party Disloyalty as ineligible to serve in any office under the Plan of Organization for a period of time between six (6) months and five (5) years.
F. REFRAIN FROM UTILIZING POWERS OF OFFICE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Each Officer and each Member of the County Executive Committee shall refrain from utilizing the powers and dignity of his or her office or position in any Republican Primary for public office at any level.
G. EDORSEMENTS IN PARTISAN ELECTIONS
In the event that the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the County Party, or any District Legislative, Judicial Committee, shall announce his intentions to run for public office or shall file a notice of candidacy with the Board of Elections, that person shall be deemed to have resigned his office within the Party and the then existing vacancy shall be filled as provided for herein. In those cases where the Party office held by said person is at the County level, the Party official may petition the County Executive Committee for exemption from this provision and the County Executive Committee may, for good cause shown, grant such an exemption with a two-thirds affirmative vote. This exemption shall be deemed void if any other Republican files with the Board of Elections for the same public office within that election cycle.
H. ENDORSEMENTS IN NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS
1.In non-partisan elections, District and County Executive Committees shall have exclusive authority to endorse registered Republicans running in that District or 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 District wholly encompassed within that County, regardless of whether Committee members live within the District in question.
2. In non-partisan statewide judicial elections, the County Executive Committee shall not issue endorsements of non-partisan, statewide judicial candidates inconsistent with the State Executive Committee endorsements.
3.With respect to any endorsement provided for in this section (Article V, Section H), 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 U.S. mail to the last known address of the Committee member. Notice must be mailed at least 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 VI
AMENDMENTS, APPLICABILITY 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 Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party Plan of Organization, by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting at the 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 30 days prior to the convening of the State 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 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 no mailed to the State Executive Committee 30 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 Committee shall have authority to correct any spelling or typographical errors in the Plan of Organization, as a housekeeping matter, that does not change the substance of the Plan.
B. APPLICABILITY
RULES AS TO TOWNS AND CITIES
This Plan of Organization is not intended to extend to or establish organizations for the Republican Party of various towns and cities of Forsyth County, North Carolina as separate units from the Precinct and County Organization. Qualified and registered Republican voters of the towns and cities of the County may organize and promulgate their own rules not inconsistent with these rules and the organizations herein established.
C. AUTHORITY
1. CONTROVERSIES
Controversies in the County with respect to the organizations set up therein under this Plan shall be referred to the State Chairman, State Vice-Chairman, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman and General Counsel for arbitration. Rulings shall be made within 60 days, and their decision shall be final.
2. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with this Plan of Organization or Convention Rules properly adopted.
3. GENDER AND NUMBER
The masculine pronoun or title herein includes the feminine, and the singular herein includes the plural, wherever appropriate.
D. EFFECTIVE DATE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN
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 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 24, 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.
2007 Plan of Organization Committee
Jerry D. Jordan
Elizabeth Seymour
