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PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
of the
REPUBLICAN PARTY
of
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
ARTICLE I - PURPOSE
We, the members of the Republican Party of Mecklenburg County in convention assembled, united in our dedication to the principles of the Republican Party and in our determination to elect Republican candidates to public office, establish this Plan of Organization to govern the Republican Party Organization of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
A. Precinct Meetings:
In every year, precinct meetings shall be held in the county upon call of the County Chairman. The County Chairman shall call such meetings to be held during the month of February or the first ten days of March and shall give at least fifteen (15) days written notice of the time and place of said meetings to all Precinct Officers and County Executive Committee Members and in a newspaper of general circulation within the county. Every Republican registered prior to January 31 shall be entitled to cast one vote, except that the January 31 requirement shall not apply to residents who have moved into the precinct within thirty (30) days of the precinct meeting. (In all places where the term “registered Republican” is used with regard to precinct meetings, this phrase shall be interpreted to mean registered in accordance with the time limits provided in this paragraph.) Failure of the County Chairman to act in compliance with the provision above shall be cause for any member of the County Executive Board, with the approval of the County Vice Chairman, to call said precinct meetings by notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.
Any registered Republican residing within the precinct may attend and cast one vote; or such Republican shall be regarded as having attended if he/she submits a written statement accepting election to various precinct offices or otherwise indicating a willingness to serve as a delegate or alternate to the various conventions if he/she signs the statement and indicates the full name and address and submits the statement to the County Chairman or his designee before six o’clock, p.m. on the day before the date of the Precinct meeting, at a place specified in the Call, for forwarding to the Precinct Chairman. The County Chairman shall provide that the County Chairman or his designee shall be present at the place so specified in the Call between the hours of three and six o’clock, p.m. on such date.
There shall be no proxy voting.
The Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct meeting shall certify all elections on forms meeting standards specified 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. No name shall be added to the forms following the adjournment of the Precinct meeting.
B. Annual Precinct Meetings
The annual Precinct meetings, at which a quorum is one person, shall:
1. Elect delegates to the County Convention – one delegate and one alternate, plus one for each fifty (50) registered Republican voters in the precinct as of January 1 of that year. Any delegate or alternate elected at a precinct meeting shall represent said precinct at the ensuing County Convention, whether or not said delegate or alternate shall have moved his residence to another precinct within Mecklenburg County during the interim between the Precinct meeting and the County Convention.
2. Nominate delegates to the Congressional District and State Conventions – one delegate and one alternate, plus one delegate and one alternate for every two hundred fifty (250) registered Republicans in the precinct on January 1 of that year.
C. Odd-Year Precinct Meetings
At odd-year Precinct meetings attendees shall:
1. Elect a Precinct Committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and two or more Members-at-Large. Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold office for two (2) years or until their successors are chosen.
2. Nominate for the County Executive Committee one committee member, plus one committee member for every five hundred (500) persons registered as Republicans in the precinct on January 1 of that year.
D. Other Precinct Meetings:
1. Other meetings of the precinct general membership 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 to Precinct Committee Members; or upon similar call of one-third (1/3) of the members of the Precinct Committee or ten (10) members of the precinct general membership.
2. In the event a precinct fails to organize, the County Executive Board may direct the County Chairman to appoint a temporary Precinct Chairman to serve until a general membership meeting can be called and business transacted. The County Chairman may call such a meeting thirty (30) days after appointment of the temporary Chairman.
3. An organized precinct is any precinct which has at least an elected Chairman.
ARTICLE III - PRECINCT COMMITTEE
A. Duties and Powers
1. The Precinct Committee shall cooperate with the County Executive Committee and the County Executive Board in all elections and Party activities; provide the County Chairman with a list of Party members within the precinct suitable for appointment as registrar, election judge, and assistants; promote the objectives of the Party within the precinct; and encourage all voters to register with the Republican Party.
2. The Chairman, 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 assigned by the Precinct Committee, the County Executive Board, or the County Executive Committee.
3. The Vice Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, and shall generally assist the Chairman.
4. The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records, and, in cooperation with the Vice Chairman, shall maintain a record of registered Republican voters and workers within the precinct.
B. Vacancies and Removals from Office
1. Precinct Committee Member - In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the precinct, removal (See Article VIII) of any officer or member of the Precinct Committee, or other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the Precinct Committee at a meeting after giving five (5) days notice to all members of the Precinct Committee. In the event a vacancy in the office of Precinct Chairman is not filled by the remaining members of the Precinct Committee within thirty (30) days of such vacancy, the County Chairman may appoint a temporary Precinct Chairman, who shall act until the next meeting of that precinct.
2. County Executive Committee Member - In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the precinct, or removal from office (See Article VIII), a precinct member on the County Executive Committee shall be replaced by a majority vote of the Precinct Committee at a meeting after giving five (5) days notice to all members of the Precinct Committee. Such action must then be approved by the County Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV - COUNTY CONVENTION
A. Annual Convention
1. A County Convention shall be called in every year by the County Chairman within the month of March, 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. At the time of the Call of the Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee of no less than three (3) people, which will meet and issue its report on delegates and alternates certified to that Convention at least seven (7) days in advance of the convening of the Convention, unless the precinct meetings and county convention are held on the same day. 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 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 at the County Convention.
2. 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 of such convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the County. If the County Chairman or Vice Chairman does not call such a meeting, it shall be cause for any member of the County Executive Board, with the approval of the Congressional District Chairmen to call such County Convention.
B. General Convention Procedure
1. The County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman, who shall have the power to appoint Rules, Resolutions, and Credentials Committees, and other necessary convention committees, and temporary officers before the convening of the Convention.
2. No delegate or alternate to the Convention shall cast any vote by proxy. No precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected delegates on the floor of the Convention.
3. Quorum for the County Convention shall be one-half (1/2) plus one of those delegates (or their alternates) certified by the Credentials Committee and approved by the Convention.
C. Delegate Election
1. The County Convention shall elect one delegate and one alternate to the Congressional District and State Conventions, plus one delegate and one alternate for every two hundred fifty (250) Republicans registered in the County as of January 1 of that year, plus one delegate and one alternate for each Republican elected to the State Legislature and to public office on the state or national level from the County in the last General Election held for those offices.
2. If a County has been divided between two (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. The County Convention shall collect from each person who is elected a delegate or alternate to the State Convention one (1) dollar to be forwarded to the State Party pursuant to the North Carolina Republican Party State Plan of Organization.
D. Odd-Year Convention
The odd-year County Convention shall elect the nominees of the Precinct meetings to the County Executive Committee. If any nominee is successfully challenged, nomination(s) shall be made from the floor and voted upon.
E. Odd Year Election of Officers
The odd-year County Convention shall elect the following officers to serve for two (2) years or until their successors are elected:
(1) Chairman
(2) Vice Chairman
(3) Secretary
(4) Treasurer
(5) General Counsel
(6) Precinct Organization Chairman
(7) Campaign Chairman
(8) Recruitment Chairman
(9) Membership Chairman
(10) Special Events Chairman
(11) Volunteers Chairman
(12) Public Relations Chairman
F. Presidential Election Year County Convention
The Presidential Election Year County Convention shall recommend nominees for delegate and alternate to the National Convention for election by the Presidential Election Year Congressional District Conventions.
G. Amendment of County Plan of Organization
The County Convention may amend the County Plan of Organization in order to be consistent with the State Plan of Organization by a majority vote.
H.. Certification of County Officers
The County Chairman and the County Secretary shall certify election of the County Officers, County Executive Committee Members, as well as delegates and alternates to the Congressional Districts and State Convention on forms meeting standards specified by the State Central Committee, and shall forward complete credentials to the Congressional District Secretary and State Headquarters no later than ten (10) days following the date of the County Convention or the date set by the State Chairman, whichever date comes first.
ARTICLE V - COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. Membership
1. All members nominated at odd-year Precinct Meetings and elected by the County Convention.
2. All voting members of the County Executive Board (see Article VI, B, 1).
3. The non-voting members of the County Executive Board described in Article VI, B, 2a.
4. All officers of the Eighth, Ninth, and Twelfth Congressional District Executive Committees who reside in Mecklenburg County.
5. All officers of the State Central Committee elected by State Convention or by the State Executive Committee who reside in Mecklenburg County.
6. All Republicans holding elective public office in Mecklenburg County shall be ex officio (non-voting) members.
B. Powers and Duties of Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall:
1. Cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities.
2. Encourage qualified candidates to file for public offices.
3. Nominate members of the District/State Executive Committee from Mecklenburg County for election by the odd-year Congressional District Conventions.
4. Nominate the Republican Member(s) for the Mecklenburg County Board of Election.
5. Elect the following County officers within four (4) weeks after the odd-year County Convention to serve for two years or until their successors are elected:
a. Two Assistant Finance chairmen
b. Assistant Secretary
c. Four Assistant Precinct Organization Chairmen.
6. Appoint not less than three (3) members of the Finance Committee upon recommendation of the Finance Chairman.
7. Approve the Chairman’s appointment of the Auditing Committee and approve the annual audit.
8. Fill vacancies on the County Executive Board.
9. Fill vacancies in public offices or nominees for public office in accordance with Article X of this Plan:
10. Upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote amend the County Plan of Organization so as to bring it into compliance with the State Plan of Organization at the next called meeting of the County Executive Committee which must be within 90 days after the State Convention.
11. Have the authority to endorse Republican candidates, upon the recommendation of the Executive Board, in non partisan elections as long as the pertinent district lies entirely within the county.
C. Meetings
1. Regular – The County Executive Committee shall hold semi-annual meetings, the first of which shall be held during the first four (4) months of the calendar year and the second of which shall be held during the last six (6) months of the calendar year. Each member shall be given ten (10) days written notice of each such meeting.
2. Special – Special meetings may be called by the County Chairman or by one-third (1/3) of the members of the Executive Committee, provided that five (5) days notice is given in writing, by telephone, or in person to each member.
3. Quorum – One fourth (1/4) of the members of the County Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.
ARTICLE VI - COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOARD
A. Officers:
1. The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive officer of the Republican Party in Mecklenburg County and shall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, exercise general supervision over the work and activities of the Party in the County. He shall have the ultimate responsibility for the progress of the Republican Party in Mecklenburg County and shall have all powers and authority reasonably necessary to discharge said responsibility.
The Chairman shall preside at the County Convention and at all meetings of the County Executive Committee and the County Executive Board. All elected or appointed officers of the County Executive Committee shall report directly to the Chairman and he may appoint special committees and such public relations advisors as may be necessary. The Chairman shall appoint with the approval of the Executive Committee an Auditing Committee of not less than three (3) members which shall conduct a yearly audit of the financial records of the County and shall report such audit to the County Executive Committee for approval at the last regular Executive Committee meeting of the calendar year. The Chairman shall further appoint the Finance Chairman and shall advise the Assistant Precinct organization Chairmen in the selection of not more than twenty (20) Precinct Supervisors and shall approve their selection.
The Chairman shall be responsible for keeping on file at County Headquarters and at State Headquarters a current copy of the Mecklenburg County Republican Plan of Organization. He shall be a member of the County Finance Committee, an ex-officio member of all committees unless otherwise designated, and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be prescribed in the County or State Plans of Organization or by the County Executive Committee.
2. The Vice Chairman shall be the second officer in rank in the Party, and, in the absence or disability of the Chairman, shall perform the duties of Chairman; shall be conversant with the Chairman’s activities and assist the Chairman wherever possible in maintaining a strong and effective County Organization; shall be a member of the Finance Committee and an ex-officio member of other committees unless otherwise designated; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
3. The Secretary shall keep all minutes of the County Executive Board, the County Executive Committee and the County Convention; send copies of the minutes of each such meetings, within ten (10) days of each meeting, to the Chairman, Vice chairman, and Assistant Secretary; keep all official records and maintain a roster of all Precinct officers and Executive Committee and Executive Board Members, which shall be available to any registered Republican; furnish to the Congressional District Chairman and to State Headquarters up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
4. The Treasurer shall keep accurate and current account of all monies received by him; shall receive and expend all funds of the Party under the supervision of the Executive Committee; shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of all financial reports required by law; shall present a Treasurer’s Report at each Executive Committee meeting; and shall be a member of the County Finance Committee. In the discretion of the Executive Board, the Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as deemed appropriate.
5. The General Counsel shall be an attorney admitted to practice in North Carolina and shall advise the County Chairman regarding parliamentary procedure in conducting the business of the County Convention, the County Executive Committee, and the County Executive Board; shall familiarize himself with the laws of the United States and North Carolina regarding political parties, candidates for public office, and elections; shall advise the County Chairman, the County Executive Board, and the County Executive Committee upon such matters and upon all other matters of party organization and party procedure; shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of all reports for the Mecklenburg County Republican Party required by Federal, State, or local law, except those reports which are the responsibility of the County Chairman or Treasurer by law; shall assist and advise candidates in any general election in filing any and all reports required by Federal, State, or local law; and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
6. The Precinct Organization Chairman, working with and through the Assistant Precinct organization Chairmen, shall recruit and maintain an effective organization in each precinct in the county; shall train all precinct workers; shall make recommendations to the County Chairman and Executive Board for improvement of the precinct organizations; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board. The Precinct Organization Chairman shall also serve as the Chairman of the Precinct Organization Committee. The other voting members of this committee include the four (4) Assistant Precinct organization Chairmen. The twenty (20) Precinct Supervisors shall serve as non-voting members of this committee.
7. The Campaign Chairman shall provide assistance and advice for local candidates in conducting their campaigns; shall organize periodic candidates’ meetings for the exchange of information; shall coordinate and produce a calendar of events for candidates; shall be responsible for the printing and distribution of candidate materials produced by the Party; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
8. The Recruitment Chairman shall be responsible on a year-round basis for the recruitment of qualified and able local candidates; shall appoint, with the approval of the County Chairman and the Executive Board, a committee to assist in identifying and communicating with potential candidates; shall maintain a permanent file of potential candidates and their qualifications; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
9. The Membership Chairman shall recommend to the County Chairman and the Executive Board means and methods of increasing the Republican registration of Mecklenburg County; shall arrange for, promote, and conduct all registration drives; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
10. The Special Events Chairman shall be in charge of arrangements for all special functions and events such as rallies, dinners, picnics, and other social and/or fund-raising events sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Republican Executive Committee; shall be a member of the County Finance Committee; may appoint, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, an assistant to aid in the discharge of his or her duties; perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
11. The Volunteers Chairman shall be responsible for recruiting volunteers for work at Republican Headquarters, including mailings, telephone banks, and the reception desk; may appoint one or more assistants to insure continuity and dependability of volunteer help; shall recommend to the County Chairman and the Executive Board appropriate means for expressing appreciation to volunteers; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
12. The Public Relations Chairman shall publicize the events, positions, platform, and candidates of the Mecklenburg Republican Party; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
13. The Finance Chairman shall recommend to the County Executive Committee not less than three qualified individuals for appointment to the County Finance Committee; shall be Chairman of the Finance Committee, which committee shall include the County Chairman, the County Vice Chairman, the County Treasurer, the Assistant Finance Chairmen, the Special Events Chairman, and all members appointed by the County Executive Committee; shall be responsible for procuring funds to finance the activities of the Party in Mecklenburg County; shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees on fund-raising matters; shall prepare, with the assistance of the Finance Committee, an annual budget for presentation to and adoption by the County Executive Board at its November meeting; with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint a Finance Secretary (who may be compensated for services); perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
14. The Assistant Finance Chairmen shall assist the Finance Chairman in the performance of the duties of that office; shall be members of the County Finance Committee; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
15. The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary in the performance of the duties of that office; from the minutes of each Executive Board and Executive Committee meeting; shall take the assignments given to each member and send a memo of assignments to each member; shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board.
16. The Assistant Precinct Organization Chairmen shall assist the Precinct organization Chairman in the performance of the duties of that office; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman or the Executive Board. Each Assistant Precinct Organization Chairman, with the advice of the Precinct Organization Chairman, shall select five (5) Precinct Supervisors to assist them in the duties of that office. Their selection shall be subject to the approval by the County Chairman.
B. Membership
1. Voting members:
a. All County Officers elected by the odd-year County Convention or their successors.
b. All County Officers elected by the County Executive Committee or their successors.
c. The Finance Chairman
d. The Immediate Past County Chairman
2. Non-Voting members:
a. The President of each bona fide Federated Republican’s Women’s Club in Mecklenburg County and each bona fide Federated Young Republican Club in Mecklenburg and other such auxiliary organizations as the Executive Board may from time to time determine.
b. All Republicans holding elective public office in Mecklenburg County.
C. Powers and Duties of the Executive Board
1. The Executive Board shall propose, formulate, consider, and act upon all matters of policy, adopt and biennially review Standing Rules, adopt an annual budget, and shall coordinate and supervise all activities of the Republican Party in Mecklenburg County.
2. The Executive Board may appoint special committees and have such other and further power and authority as may be reasonably necessary to properly conduct the affairs and activities of the Republican Party in Mecklenburg County.
3. In the event that the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections changes precinct lines within the county, the allocation of votes to realigned precincts shall be prepared by the County Chairman, the Precinct Organization Chairman, and the Republican Member(s) of the Board of Elections, and approved by a majority vote of the remaining voting members of the Executive Board.
4. In the event of vacancy in an elective office on the County Executive Committee, the County Executive Board may appoint a temporary successor.
5. The Executive Board may employ persons to assist the officers of the party in the performance of their duties and to perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman and the Executive Board.
6. In the event that the County Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall announce his/her 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/her office within the Party and the then-existing vacancy shall be filled. 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 (2/3) 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.
D. Meetings
1. Regular - The Executive Board shall meet monthly in at least ten (10) months of each year, and each member shall be given at least five (5) days written or telephone notice of each such regular meeting.
2. Special - Special meetings may be called by the County Chairman or by one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the Executive Board, upon three (3) days written or telephone notice to each member.
3. Quorum – A majority of the voting members of the Executive Board serving at the time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
E. Vacancies and Removals from office
In case of death, disability, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the county, or removal from office (see Article VIII) of any elected officers of the County Executive Board, the same Board may appoint a temporary successor to serve until the next regular or special meeting of the County Executive Committee, which shall elect a successor to said office, except in the case of the vacancy of the office of County Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall call a meeting of the County Executive Committee within thirty (30) days to fill said vacancy.
ARTICLE VII - JUDICIAL, SENATORIAL, LEGISLATIVE, DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
Where appropriate, judicial, Senatorial, Legislative District Executive Committees shall function in accordance with the State Plan of Organization.
ARTICLE VIII - QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
A. Registered Republican
Each elected or appointed official of the precinct and county organization of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party shall be a registered Republican in the precinct in which he or she resides.
B. Termination and/or Resignation
Termination of Republican registration or permanent removal of residence from Mecklenburg County shall constitute an automatic resignation. In addition, permanent transfer of residence from the precinct represented or unexcused absences from three (3) consecutive County Executive Committee meetings shall constitute an automatic resignation from the County Executive Committee. An excused Absence shall require a letter to the County Chairman, no later than seven (7) days after the meeting, stating the reason for said absence, based upon illness, serious illness or death in the family, business commitments, or inability to be in Mecklenburg County on the date of the meeting.
C. Removal from Executive Committee
Any elected or appointed official or member of a Precinct Committee or of the County Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the committee on which he serves, 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 cause for removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty, or failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization. Any current or former officer or Member of a Precinct Committee, County Executive Committee, District Committee, State Executive Committee or State Central Committee, who, for any reason, is removed or resigns from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way connected with that position.
Such removal may be appealed by a Precinct officer or Committee member, within twenty (20) days, first to the County Executive Board and second to the County Executive Committee, whose action shall be final. Removal of an officer or member of the County Executive Committee may be appealed within twenty (20) days to the Congressional District Chairman and members of the State Executive Committee within the District, and their decision shall be final.
D. Party Disloyalty
Any registered Republican using a current or former title as a Party or elected official on the Republican ticket to influence the outcome of any election against a Republican nominee may be declared ineligible to hold office under the State Plan of Organization at the State, District, County, and Precinct level for Party disloyalty by 2/3 vote of the State Executive Committee. Charges for Party disloyalty may be brought by petition of 50 members of the State Executive Committee, or by resolution of a County or District Republican Executive Committee. Any Republican against whom charges of Party disloyalty are brought shall be furnished with two (2) weeks notice of said charges and be given an opportunity to present a defense. For purposes of this Plan of Organization, “Party disloyalty” is defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party. The State Executive Committee may declare a Republican found to have engaged in Party disloyalty as ineligible to serve in any office under this Plan of organization for a period of time between 6 months and 5 years.
ARTICLE IX - PROXY VOTING
Proxy voting shall not be recognized in any meeting or convention.
ARTICLE X - FILLING VACANCIES IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND NOMINEES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
A. According to North Carolina General Statutes and the North Carolina Republican Party State Plan of Organization, the County Executive Committee is authorized to replace a Republican office holder or a Republican nominee for public office only when the district in question lies entirely within the boundaries of Mecklenburg County.
B. Whenever the Mecklenburg County Executive Committee, or a part thereof, is required by North Carolina General Statutes to select a person to fill a vacancy in a Republican nomination for public office or to recommend to the Governor or some public body the name of an individual to fill a vacancy in a public office previously held by a Republican, the special rules in this section shall apply.
1. The selection of an individual to fill the vacancy shall be held at a special meeting of the entire Executive Committee, even if voting to fill the vacancy is restricted by North Carolina General Statutes to the members of the Committee who live within a particular district. Only voting members of the Executive Committee may vote to fill such a vacancy. No other business shall be considered at this meeting.
2. The Tellers Committee shall be appointed by the County Chairman. Each candidate to fill the vacancy may appoint one person to observe this committee.
3. When they register upon entering the meeting, the members of the Executive Committee who are eligible to vote to fill the vacancy according to North Carolina General Statutes, after having been certified as such by the Secretary, shall receive an envelope prepared by the Tellers Committee. In each envelope the Tellers shall have placed four ballots clearly labeled “Ballot#1,” “Ballot #2,” etc. Such ballots shall be of a color and design unknown to others prior to the meeting.
4. Those members of the Executive Committee eligible to vote to fill the vacancy shall be seated separately from other members of the Executive Committee and from guests and media representatives.
5. The conduct of the election to fill the vacancy shall require both the normal quorum of the entire Executive Committee and at least one-half (1/2) of the members of the Executive Committee who are eligible to vote to fill the vacancy.
6. Any candidate seeking to fill the vacancy shall, prior to commencement of nominations, advise the County Chairman or the Presiding Officer of the meeting in writing: (a) the candidate’s intention of running to fill the vacancy; (b) the name of the person who will nominate the candidate; and (c) the name of the person who will second the nomination, providing further that the persons making the nominating and the seconding speeches shall be Executive Committee members who are eligible to vote to fill the vacancy.
7. All nominating and seconding speeches shall be made in alphabetical order determined by the candidate’s surname. The nominating speeches shall be limited to three (3) minutes and one seconding speech to one (1) minute. Following the nominating and seconding speeches for all candidates, each candidate shall be allowed to address the Executive Committee for five (5) minutes. The candidates’ speeches shall be given in the order in which they were nominated.
8. Following nominating, seconding, and campaign speeches, the members of the Executive Committee eligible to vote to fill the vacancy shall write in the name of the person they wish to elect to fill the vacant position on the appropriate ballot. These ballots shall be placed directly by each such member into a ballot box placed in front of the entire Executive Committee, and a tally shall be made of the number of members casting ballots. The election shall be by secret ballot. No proxy or absentee balloting shall be permitted, in accordance with Article IX of this Plan.
9. Only votes cast on the correct ballot which name a person legally eligible under North Carolina General Statutes to be elected to the vacant office shall be counted as valid ballots. When the name on a ballot is unclear, the tellers shall count the vote according to the “intent” of the voter. When the intent is unclear, the ballot shall be declared invalid.
10. On each ballot, a majority of the valid ballots cast shall be necessary to elect someone to fill the vacant position. If no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be held. On the second and all subsequent ballots, only ballots containing the name of one of the two individuals who received the largest number of votes on the first ballot will be considered valid ballots. On the second and all subsequent ballots, any ballot not containing the name of one of the two individuals who received the largest number of votes on the first ballot shall be declared invalid, and therefore shall not be counted in determining the number necessary for a majority. Third, fourth, and subsequent ballots shall be used only if there is a tie vote on the previous ballot.
ARTICLE XI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for matters of procedure not specifically covered by the State Plan of Organization or the Mecklenburg County Plan of Organization or Convention Rules properly adopted.
ARTICLE XII - CONFLICT WITH THE STATE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
Any Article or part of this Plan of Organization which is in conflict with the State Plan of Organization shall be void and of no effect. However, the voidance of any Article or part thereof shall have no effect on the remainder, which shall remain in force and effect.
ARTICLE XIII - EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN
This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all previous Plans of Organizations of the Mecklenburg County Republican Party, immediately upon adoption by the County Convention held on March 7, 2006; and shall remain in effect until amended, repealed or superseded by action of the County Convention or of the County Executive Committee as provided herein.
2006 Plan of Organization Committee
Jane Bondurant
Iris Jacobson
Billy Miller
Lee Teague
Carson Daves, Chairman
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