Moore County Republican Party
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

A.  Organization

The Moore County Republican Party Executive Committee shall establish a Precinct Committee within each voting district as defined by the Moore County Board of elections.  Any Member of the Republican Party who shall meet the residency requirements may be a voting member of the Precinct Organization.

B.  Annual Precinct Meetings

1.  Duties of Officers

a)  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.

b)  The Vice Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chairman.

c)  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.  Minutes and Records shall be made available for inspection with reasonable notice by any member of the Precinct and by the County Chairman and County Vice Chairman.

2.  Call for Meeting

a)  In every year, the County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings during the month of February, by giving 10 days written notice to each Precinct Chairman and by notices in newspapers of general circulation within the County as provided for in Article VII.A.4.of the State Plan of Organization, and that the Precinct Chairs also be informed as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the Precinct Meeting.

b)  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 newspapers of general circulation with the County.

c)  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.

3.  Election of Precinct Officers

a) At odd-year Precinct meetings Members shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of:

(1) Chairman

(2) Vice Chairman

(3) Secretary

(4) A sufficient number of Members-At-Large as deemed by the Chairman to conduct the business of the Precinct.

b) Term of Office.  Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold their offices for two (2) years or until their successors are chosen.

c) There shall be no proxy voting.

4.  Election of Delegates

The annual Precinct Meetings shall elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to the County Convention.  They shall also elect 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 50 votes, or fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election in the precinct in accordance with Article VII.A.6.b. of the State Plan of Organization.  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 the alternative method which establishes a basis number of registered Republicans voters less than 100 but, in so doing, must assure a proportional representation of all registered Republican voters in the county.

5.  Other Precinct Meetings

a)  Other meetings of the Precinct general membership may be held at such time as shall be designated by the Precinct Chairman after giving five (5) days notice of such meeting in newspapers 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.

b)  There shall be no proxy voting.

c)  In the event a Precinct fails to properly organize, and the Precinct Chairman, Vice Chairman, or Secretary fail to act, the County Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Precinct Chairman to serve for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days during which a general Membership Meeting can be called and a new Chairman elected.

C.  Precinct Committee

1.  Duties of the Committee

a)  furthering Republican ideals and principles at the neighborhood level;

b)  promote Republican candidates for office;

c)  cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities;

d)  provide the County Chairman with a list of Party Members within the Precinct suitable for appointment as Election officials;

e)  promote the objectives of the Party within the Precinct.

2.  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 the removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article IVD.  Such removal may be appealed to the County Executive Committee within twenty (20) days and their decision shall be final.

A.  Organization

The affairs of the Moore County Republican Party shall be managed by an Executive Committee as further defined hereafter; and is responsible for furthering Republican ideals and principles in the County; with the authority to establish and execute such practices and policies it deems in the best interest of Republicans; promoting Republican candidates for office; representing Moore County Republicans in regional, state, and national Republican organizations; supporting Republican elected officials and candidates for office who have been selected in County and State primary elections; and with performing such duties as may be required by the North Carolina Board of Elections.

B. County 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 Moore County, in the month of March, at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled District Convention.  Notice shall be published in newspapers of general circulation within the county at least ten (10) days prior to the Convention. All Precinct Chairman will receive a confirmation letter ten (10) days before the Convention convenes.

b)  Credentials Committee: At the time of the call of the County Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee that shall consist of no less than three (3) people which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least five (5) days prior to the convening of the Convention. All Delegates and Alternates challenged in the report of the Credentials Committee shall be notified three (3) days 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 specifically challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.

c)  Rules, Resolutions and Plan of Organization Committees: The County Chairman shall also appoint a Rules Committee, a Resolutions Committee, and a Plan of Organization Committee, consisting of no less than three (3) members each, who shall give written notice of all business it will place before the convention at least fourteen (14) days prior to the convening of the Convention. Any business on which notice has not been given shall not be taken up by the Convention or be placed on the agenda except and unless there is a motion from the floor of the Convention to add the new business to the agenda, that motion must be approved  by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Convention.

d)  The County Chairman shall establish a Nominating Committee to provide nominations for County Party Officers.  The Committee shall consist of the following five (5) members:

(1) An appointee of the President of the Moore County Republican Men’s Club;

(2) An appointee of the President of the Moore Republican Women;

(3) An appointee of the President of the Moore County Young Republicans;

(4) An appointee of the President of the Sandhills Republican Women; and

(5) One additional member as decided upon by the Executive Committee.

e)  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 Chairman and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article IIIB1a. 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 a 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, District and State Headquarters.  Since failure to comply may result in the County Delegation not being seated at the District or State Convention by the Credentials Committees of those organizations, it shall be the responsibility of the County Chairman to submit the County Plan of Organization to the NCGOP Headquarters within thirty (30) days of its adoption, by certified US mail, return receipt requested.  Failure to comply shall constitute adoption of the State Plan of Organization.  The County Convention may authorize the County Executive Committee to amend the Plan by a two thirds (2/3) vote of approval.

b)  Elections

(1) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are duly elected.  No one individual may hold more than one of these positions concurrently.  No individual may be elected to a specific office for more than two (2) terms.

(2) In every odd-numbered year, the County Convention shall elect to the  County Executive Committee five (5) At Large Members, in addition to the County Officers, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.

(3) The County Convention shall, in accordance with the County Plan of Organization, elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus one (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 Moore County in accordance with Article VII.A.6.b of the State Plan of Organization.  Moore County 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 Moore County in the last election held for that office.

(4) The County Convention may authorize the County Executive Committee to amend the Plan to insure its compliance with the State Plan of Organization.

3.  Credentials

The County Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall certify the election of Officers, Executive 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 of the State Plan of Organization.  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 ten (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 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

For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or Alternate to the State Convention, the County Executive Committee shall forward to the State Party necessary funds to pay the fee set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to each elected Delegate and Alternative.

C.  The County Executive Committee

1.  Membership

The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and the following Members:

a) Precinct Chairmen;

b) Five (5) At Large Members elected at the County Convention;

c) President of the Moore County Men’s Republican Club;

d) President of the Moore Republican Women;

e) President of the Sandhills Republican Women;

f) President of the Moore County Young Republican Club;

g) Chairman, Minority Affairs Committee;

h) Chairman, Finance Committee;

i) Moore County elected Republican State Senator and Representative, ex-officio, without vote; and

j) Moore County elected Republican officials, ex-officio, without vote.

k) The County Executive Committee may also elect additional members to serve on the Executive Committee.

2.  Powers and Duties

The County Executive Committee

a) Shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities;

b) Shall adopt an annual budget;

c) Shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments to the County Board of Elections;

d) Shall approve a Finance Committee and Audit Committee of not less than three (3) Members (See Article IIID.1.,2.), and may approve such other Committees as may be deemed necessary;

e) Shall have active management of Party affairs within the county;

f) In the event that it is determined that the County Plan is not consistent with the State Party Plan, the Executive Committee must, at the next called meeting, bring the County Plan into compliance with the State Plan within 90 days; and

g) In addition, the Executive Committee may, upon a 2/3 vote, amend the County Plan of Organization, when authorized by the County Convention, providing THIRTY (30) DAYS notice of the meeting, advising Members regarding the substance of the proposed amendment and provided a quorum is present.

3.  Meetings

a) The County Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly each year upon the call of the County Chairman after giving no less than ten (10) days notice to all Members; or upon petition of 25% of the Members of the Committee.

b) A quorum shall consist of no less than 1/3 of the total number of Members of the Executive Committee.

c) There shall be no proxy voting.

d) All motions, except as herein or by parliamentary authority, may be passed by a majority vote of those in attendance at a meeting.

e) Should any Precinct Chairman be unable to attend any meeting of the County Executive Committee, the Precinct Vice Chairman may attend such meeting in his place.  Should neither the Precinct Chairman nor the Vice Chairman be able to attend, the Secretary may attend and represent the Precinct.  The Precinct Chairman may designate, by written notice to the County Chairman, a member of the Precinct Committee as the voting representative of the Precinct. If none of the Precinct Officers attend an Executive Committee Meeting, the Precinct Chairman may designate, by written letter, a Precinct representative to attend such Meeting.

4.  Duties of Officers

a)  The Chairman of the Moore County Executive Committee, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within Moore County. His duties include the following:

(1) Issue the call for Precinct Meetings and the County Convention and Executive Committee Meetings;

(2) Shall preside at all the Meetings of the County Executive Committee;

(3) May recommend the appointment of an Assistant Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee,  and any other appointments deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee;

(4) Shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention;

(5) Shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Moore County to the District Chairman;

(6) Shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every Precinct within the County; and

(7) Shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District, and State Executive Committees.

b)  The Vice Chairman shall function as the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. His duties include the following:

(1) Chief Assistant to the Chairman;

(2) Establish and maintain contact with the District and State Vice Chairmen;

(3) Assure that the Secretary obtains and preserves a list of all registered Republicans in Moore County; and

(4) Other duties as prescribed by the County Chairman.

c) The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records of the Moore County Republican Party, including the following:

(1) 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 Moore County Republican;

(2) Obtain and preserve a list of all registered Moore County Republicans;

(3) Furnish to the District Chairman and to State Party Headquarters current lists of all Precinct Chairman; and

(4) Such duties as may be prescribed by the County Chairman and the Executive Committee.

d)  The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the County Executive Committee.  His duties further include:

(1) Shall make a financial report at all County Executive Committee Meetings;

(2) Shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws.

(3) An Assistant Treasurer will be appointed, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee to assist the Treasurer, when requested by the Treasurer, in the execution of his duties.

5. Vacancies and Removals

a) In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within Moore County, or removal of any Officer or Member of the County Executive Committee, 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.D.  Such removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within twenty (20) days and their decision shall be final.

D.  Standing Committees

1.  The Finance Committee

a)  Shall consist of the County Finance Chairman, County Chairman, County Vice Chairman, County Treasurer, and not less than three (3) Members selected by the County Chairman and approved by the County Executive Committee;

b)  Shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees;

c)  Shall have active management of all Party fundraising activities within the County;

d)  Shall report the status of fundraising activities at every meeting of the County Executive Committee;

e)  Shall prepare an annual budget for Executive Committee approval.  Such budget shall reflect the fiscal year beginning January 1 of each year; and

f)  Members of the Finance committee shall not be eligible for service on the Audit Committee.

2.  Audit Committee

a) Shall consist of not less than three (3) members elected by the County Executive Committee two (2) months prior to the end of the Party’s fiscal year.

b) Shall conduct a yearly internal audit of the financial records of the County and report such audit to the County Executive Committee for approval;

c) Shall request the Executive Committee to fund and conduct an external review every four years.

d) Members of the Finance Committee shall not be eligible for service on the Audit Committee.

e) The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be chosen by the Committee itself.

3.  Minority Affairs

Shall be responsible for promoting the Party’s efforts to increase minority participation in membership and activities of Republicans in Moore County.

Shall develop and present a plan of outreach to the Executive Committee for their advice and consent and then promulgate and manage the plan’s execution within the minority community.

A.  Convention Procedures

1. Annual County Convention

a) The annual County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman, or in the absence of the County Chairman, by the Vice Chairman or Secretary, in order stated, who shall have the power to appoint the necessary Convention Committees, and Temporary Officers at, or before, the convening of the Convention.

b) No member of the 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 unless such person shall have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct Meeting or County Convention; except, the Republican or Republicans, present at a County Convention from an unorganized Precinct, which has not had its credentials accepted, shall have the right to vote one (1) vote per Precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.

c) No Delegate or Alternate to a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy.

3.  Public Notice

Notice published in County newspapers of general circulation shall include either a paid advertisement or a news item, provided it includes the time, date, location and purpose of the Meeting.  Such notices shall appear in the newspapers at least ten (10) days prior to 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.

B.  Committees

Ex-officio members of the standing committees 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 to such membership, his membership terminates automatically. Should any member of a committee be unable to serve for any reason, their replacement, if any, shall be appointed/elected in the same manner in which the original member was appointed/elected.

C.  General Election Procedures

Notwithstanding any other Article in this Plan of Organization, the allocated Delegate and Alternate slots allotted to each Precinct under this Plan of Organization shall first be filled by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote present at their Precinct Meeting and desiring to be elected to fill such slots.  All duly qualified Republicans registered to vote may be elected by qualified Republicans attending their Precinct Meeting to fill slots that have not been filled by Republicans attending the meeting.

D.  Vacancies and Removals

Any Officer or member may be removed by a two third (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by one third (1/3) of the Members of the Executive Committee.  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.

a) 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 or the County Officers supporting a candidate in a contested Republican Primary election.

b) Any current or former members 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.

E.  Non-Partisan Offices

No Member of the Moore County Republican Party shall offer an opportunity for a candidate for, or current office holder of, a “non-partisan office” who is not a registered Republican to address a Republican Convention or any other function sponsored by, or in association with, a Moore County Republican Party or any of its subdivisions.

F.  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 the County Secretary.

G.  Financial Accounts

1.  Records:  The Chairman, Treasurer, and Finance Chairman of the County shall keep faithful and accurate records of any and all monies received by them for the  use of the said Committees and shall make faithful and accurate reports thereof when so requested.

2.  Loans:  No Officer or Member of the Party shall cause the Party to undertake a loan without prior approval of two thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee.

3.  Budgeted Expenses: No Officer of the Party shall exceed approved total budgeted expenditures without approval of two thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee.

A. Qualifications:

A candidate filing for election to a municipal, county, or state office as a Republican must have been a registered Republican for at least thirty (30) days.

B. Candidates:

When any Party official at the county level or above becomes a candidate in a Republican Primary Election, he shall be deemed to have resigned from all Party offices above and including the level of Precinct Chairman.

C. Election Certification:

Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, and Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention, on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman.  Completed credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary within ten (10) days of the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least two (2) days prior to the Credentials Committee meeting.  No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the Adjournment of the Precinct Meeting. The 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 candidates run for office.

A.  Amendments to this Plan of Organization

1. This Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the North Carolina Republican Party Plan of Organization or the Rules of the Republican National Committee, by a 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 at least thirty (30) days prior to the convening of the County Convention.

2. Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to an amendment) which would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment must receive two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention.

B.  Applicability

This Plan of Organization is intended to extend to, and to establish organizations for, the Republican Party of the various towns and cities in Moore County as indivisible units of the Precinct and County Organizations.

C.  Authority

1. Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order, Current Edition, shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with this County Plan of Organization, State Plan of Organization, or Convention Rules properly adopted.

2. Gender and Number

The masculine pronoun or title herein includes the feminine, and the singular herein includes the plural, wherever appropriate.

D.  Effective Date

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supercede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately following adjournment of the County Convention of March 4, 2006.  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 Officers, Committee Members, and Executive Committee Members at the time of the adoption of this Plan.

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