Graham County Republican Party
Plan of Organization
Adopted in Convention
March 5, 2009
Preamble:
We, the Members of the Republican Party of Graham County, dedicated to the sound principles fostered by that party, conscious of our civic responsibilities and rights, firm in our determination to give our strength to preserving the American principle that government ought and must be of all the people, by all 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 Graham County.
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
A. MEMBERS:
All citizens of Graham County who are registered Republicans are Members of the Republican Party of Graham County and shall have the right to participate in the official affairs of the Republican Party in accordance with these rules. All reference herein to Delegates, Alternates, Officers and Members shall, in all cases, mean persons identified and registered with the Republican Party in the Precinct of their residence.
ARTICLE II
PRECINCT MEETINGS
A. ANNUAL 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 that the Precinct Chairs also be informed as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the precinct meeting, and in accordance with Article VII.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 within the County as provided for in Article VII, A.4. 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.
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 and Secretary. 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
Eligible voters in Precinct Meetings shall elect one delegate and one alternate per precinct plus one delegate and one alternate for every 100 register Republicans. The number of registered Republicans in each precinct shall be determined as of January 15 in the year of the convention.
4. Duties of Officers
The Chairman of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, 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 County Convention, 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.
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 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 to serve until a general Membership Meeting can be called and a new Chairman elected.
B. PRECINCT COMMITTEE
1. Duties of Committee
The Precinct Committee shall cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities, provide the County Chairman with a list of Party Members within the Precinct suitable for appointment as Election Officials, and promote the objectives of the Party within the Precinct.
2. Duties of Officers
The Chairman of the Precinct Committee, with the advice and consent of the Precinct Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the Precinct, shall preside at all Meetings of the Precinct, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Precinct Committee or the County Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The committee 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 other vacancy, 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 or Officer is defined in Article VII 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 given in Article VII, A.4.
b. At the time of the call of the Convention, the County Chairman shall give a report to those present, naming the Delegates and Alternates certified to the Convention. If any Delegates and/or Alternates are challenged, the Chairman shall immediately question the Precinct Chairman to which the Delegate or Alternate were elected as to the validity of their election, the County Chairman having the final decision as to their official capacity to serve as such during the convention. The Delegates and Alternates elected at the Precinct Meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.
c. If the County Chairman fails, refuses or neglects to call a County Convention as required
by this Article, it shall become the duty of the Vice-Chairman to act in this capacity. The Vice-Chairman shall give 5 days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article VII, 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 this State Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file with each member of the County Executive Committee and at State Headquarters. Failure to comply may result in the County Delegation not being seated at the State Convention by the Credentials Committee.
b. Elections
i. In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer all of whom shall serve as ex-officio members of the County Executive Committee and such other Officers as may be deemed necessary, who shall serve for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected.
ii. In addition to the County Officers, the Precinct Chairman’s, Vice-Chairman’s and Secretary’s of each voter Precinct shall serve as members of the County Executive Committee for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected.
iii. The County Convention shall, in accordance with the County Plan of Organization, elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 200 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election in said county. The 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 the County in the last election held for that office.
iv. If the County has been divided between 2 or more Congressional Districts, it shall prorate its Delegate vote among these Congressional Districts in accordance with the votes cast for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in the last election 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 and Alternates to the District and State Conventions, on forms furnished by the State Central Committee and in conformance with Article VII. Completed Credentials shall be in the hands of the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadline set by the State Chairman. All County Credentials for the State Convention should be mailed to State Headquarters no later than 10 days following the date of the County Convention or the deadline set by the State Chairman, whichever date comes first. Copies of all newspaper notices shall be submitted to the NC Republican Party along with County Credentials. No Delegates or Alternates shall be added to the Credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention.
4. Convention Fee(s)
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. A County Plan of Organization may permit the County Party to recover this fee from the Delegates and Alternates following their election.
B. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. Membership
a. The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Officers and the Chairman of each Precinct in accordance with Article III A.2.
b. For the purposes of conduct official business or meetings the County Executive Committee shall have a quorum of five qualified members present.
2. Powers and Duties
a. The County Executive Committee shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all
elections and Party activities.
b. Shall encourage qualified candidates for office within the County.
c. Shall adopt a budget.
d. Shall have active management of Party affairs within the County.
e. 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.
If permitted by the County Plan of Organization 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. A
majority of the members, enrolled on the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, exclusive of ex-
officio members. There shall be no proxy voting.
4. Duties of Officers
Chairman:
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.
b. 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.
c. The Chairman shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments for County
Board of Election.
d. The Chairman shall appoint a Fund Raising Committee and any other Committee deemed necessary
to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee.
e. The Chairman shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention, who may be
himself.
f. The Chairman shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within his County to the
District Chairman.
g. The Chairman shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization
in every Precinct within his County.
h. 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.
i. The County Chairman shall be an "Ex-officio" Member of all Committees unless otherwise
designated in this Plan of Organization.
Vice-Chairman:
a. 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.
b. The Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-officio" Member of all Committees unless otherwise designated in the Plan of Organization.
Secretary:
a. 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.
b. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chairman and to State Headquarters up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen.
Treasurer:
a. 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.
Director of Republican Women:
a. The Director of Republican Women shall organize the women of the Republican Party in a grassroots effort to build party unity, encouraging young women to become involved in the party and to increase the voter registration for the party. To seek out qualified women to run for public office in support of our conservative values.
5. Attendance
a. Any board member who misses’ three consecutive executive board meetings or 50% of
the previous 12 eligible meetings and those absences are unexcused may be asked to resign his
seat on the Executive Committee, unless good cause is shown to the Executive Committee which
shall then decide the question.
b. Excused absence requests shall be communicated to the secretary or any officer prior to
the Committee meeting and shall be reported to the Committee and approved or
denied by the Committee.
6. Vacancies and Removals
a. In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the County, removal of any Officer
or Member of the County Executive Committee, or other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be
filled by the County Executive Committee.
b. The procedure for removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article IV A.7. Such
removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within 20 days and their decision shall be
final.
C. COUNTY FUND RAISING COMMITTEE
1. Fund Raising Committee
a. The County Fund Raising Committee shall be appointed at the county convention by the Chairman of the
County Executive Committee and shall consist of a number not less that three persons. Members of the
Fund Raising Committee shall serve a term of two years.
b. The purpose of this committee is to have and manage active fund-raising efforts within the County to
ensure the party has sufficient funds to operate and meet its financial needs.
c. The committee shall set annual fund raising goals and shall work to achieve those goals.
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
A. CONVENTION PROCEDURES
1. Annual Conventions and Presidential Election Year Conventions
a. The County Convention shall be called to order by their respective 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.
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 the County Convention unless such person shall
have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct Meeting or County Convention.
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. Votes for Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be by county according to the number of Delegates authorized to attend the state convention, so long as there is one delegate, from that county, on the floor to vote the Delegates authorized.
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
a. The State Central Committee, at any time, in the interests of the Republican Party, may direct
the State Chairman or the Congressional District Chairmen to issue a call for Special Senatorial, Judicial or Legislative Organization Meetings, and Special County and Congressional District Conventions, in any or all of the Counties and Districts of the State. 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
a. 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.
b. Such notices shall appear in the newspaper at least 10 days prior to the Meeting or Convention. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice.
5. Challenges
a. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan of Organization, challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made in their capacity as individual Delegates. The successful challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made individually as to their capacity as Delegates and Alternates. The successful challenges of individuals in their capacity as Delegates and Alternates shall not affect the seating of other Delegates and Alternates in the same Precinct or County Delegates unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the previous election of such successfully challenged Delegates and Alternates resulted in the election of other Delegates and Alternates within such Delegation who would not otherwise have been elected, but for the votes of the unqualified Delegates or Alternates.
6. General Election Procedure
a. 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. 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. 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.
7. Vacancies and Removals
a. Any Member of a Committee organized under this Plan may be removed by a 2/3's vote of the
Executive Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than 50, or 1/3 of the Members of the Committee, whichever is the lesser. Any Republican against whom charges are brought shall be furnished with 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 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.
B. OFFICIAL RECORDS
a. 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
C. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
1. Records
The Chairman and Treasurer County Committees 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.
D. APPOINTMENTS
1. Filling Vacancies
a. When a vacancy occurs in a governmental office for which a Party recommendation is called for, such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina.
b. The County Executive Committee may consider previous candidates from the most recent election (General Election or Primary). However, the Executive Committee shall have the exclusive authority to choose a qualified successor from a list of all registered Republicans within the County to fill the vacancy.
c. Any member of the County Executive Committee who is concurrently holding public Office in Graham County shall be exempt from voting in this process.
d. For the purposes of filling a vacancy the County Executive Committee shall have a quorum of five qualified members present.
e. For the purposes of filling a vacancy, the County Chairman shall preside over the meeting and shall only cast a vote to break a tie.
E. FORFEITURE OF OFFICIAL PRIVILEGES
1. Removal or Resignation from Committees
a. Any current or former Officer or Member of a Precinct Committee or County Executive Committee who, for
any reason, is removed or resigned from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way
connected with that position.
Article V
AMENDMENTS, APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN
A. AMENDMENTS TO PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
1. General
The Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party, by majority vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention provided, however, that the proposed amendment was mailed to the membership of the County Executive Committee, elected at the preceding County Convention.
2. Amendments from the Convention floor
Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to the amendment), which would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment, must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention. This paragraph applies only to amendments to Amendments to the Plan that were mailed out to the Executive Committee as above described.
3. Proposed amendments not mailed
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.
B. APPLICABILITY
1. Rules as to Counties and Districts
The Precinct and County Committees and County Conventions are authorized to promulgate such additional rules and establish such additional Party Officers or Committees for their respective organizations, not inconsistent with these rules, as shall be deemed necessary. Counties may establish Executive Boards to transact the business of the Party between County Executive Committee Meetings.
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. Ruling shall be made within 60 days, and their decision shall be final.
2. Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with this State 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
1. 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 Robbinsville, North Carolina, on March 5, 2009. 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 this 5th Day of March, 2009.
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Executive Committee Chairman
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Executive Committee Secretary
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County Plan of Org. 
