FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY 101 WEST NASH STREET P

FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
101 WEST NASH STREET
P.O. BOX 909
LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA 27549
(919) 496-1469
www.FranklinNCGOP.com

FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

MARCH 19, 2010

PREAMBLE

We the members of the Republican Party of Franklin County, North Carolina, dedicated to the sound principles fostered by that Party, conscious of our civic responsibilities and rights, firm in our determination to give our strength to preserving the American principle that government ought and must be of all the people, by all the people and for all 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 Franklin County.

ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP

A. MEMBERS

All citizens of Franklin County who are registered Republicans are members of the Republican Party of Franklin 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 ORGANIZATION

A. ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS

1. Call for Meeting

The County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings every year during the month of February or the first ten (10) days of March, after giving notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County which 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 newspaper at least ten (10) days prior to the Meeting. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice. 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. Every Republican registered prior to January 31 preceding the Meeting shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote, except that the January 31 requirement shall not apply to residents who have moved into the Precinct within 30 days of the Precinct Meeting.

2. Election of Precinct Officers

At odd year Precinct Meetings, at which a quorum is one person, unless the County Plan of Organization requires a larger number, shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and as many Members-at-Large as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Precinct. Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold their offices for two (2) years or until their successors are chosen. There shall be no proxy voting.

3. Election of Delegates

The annual Precinct Meetings shall elect one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate to the County Convention. They shall also elect one (1) additional Delegate and Alternate for each fifty (50) registered Republican voters, or major fraction thereof, in the precinct as of January 1 of that year.

4. Duties of Officers

The Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, and Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention, on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman. Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least two (2) days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting, unless the Precinct Meetings and the County Convention are held on the same day. No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the Precinct Meeting.

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 five (5) days notice of such Meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County, or by such other method of notification as may be specified in the County Plan of Organization; or upon similar call of one-third (1/3) of the Members of the Precinct Committee, or ten (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 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. The Precinct meeting for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to the County Convention the Precinct Chairman/ Committee is responsible for ensuring an active participation of Republicans in his/ her Precinct. The Executive Committee will make available post cards with postage to be addressed, dated, and mailed by the Precinct Chairman/ Committee.

3. Vacancies and Removals

a. In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the Precinct, removal of any officers or members of the Precinct Committee, or any other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members Precinct Committee.

b. Any member of the Precinct Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Precinct Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than one-third (1/3) of the members of the Precinct Committee and allowing him twenty (20) days to appear and defend himself; provided further that said cause for removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty or failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization. Such removal may be appealed to the County Executive Committee within twenty (20) days, and their decision shall be final.

For purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty" shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party.

ARTICLE 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 ten (10) days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and following procedures given in Article IV, Section 3.

b. At the time of the call of the Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee, which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least three (3) days in advance of the convening of the Convention, unless a County holds its Precinct Meetings and County Convention on the same day. All Delegates and Alternates challenged in the report of the Credentials Committee shall be notified prior to the day of the Convention and allowed to present their case to the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the Convention. The Delegates and Alternates elected at the Precinct Meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.

c. If the County Chairman fails, refuses or neglects to call a County Convention as required by this Article, it shall become the duty of the Vice-Chairman to act in this capacity. The Vice-Chairman shall give 5 days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article IV, Section 3. If the County Chairman or Vice-Chairman does not call such a Meeting, it shall be cause for any Member of the County Executive Committee, with the approval of the Congressional District Chairman, or Chairmen, to call such County Convention.

2. Convention Action

a. The County Convention shall adopt or amend a written County Plan of Organization not inconsistent with the State Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at County Headquarters and at State Headquarters. Failure to comply may result in the County Delegation not being seated at the State Convention by the Credentials Committee.

b. Elections

i. In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Second Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other Officers as may be deemed necessary, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.

ii. In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a County Executive Committee of nine (9) registered Republicans, in addition to the County Officers, who shall hold their places for a term of two (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 250 Republicans, or major fraction thereof, registered in the county, as of January 1 of that year. The County Convention shall further elect 1 Delegate and Alternate for each Republican elected to the state legislature and to public office on the state or national level from said County in the last election held for that office.

iv. If Franklin County should be divided between two (2) or more Congressional Districts, it shall prorate its Delegate vote among these Congressional Districts in accordance with the Republican voter registration 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. 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. No Delegates or Alternates shall be added to the Credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention.

B. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Membership

The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Officers and other persons elected by the County Convention in accordance with Article III A.2, the County Finance Chairman, elected Republican county officials who were elected in partisan elections, and other state or federal Republican officials whose legal residence is located within Franklin County. Precinct Chairpersons for each of the precincts in the County shall be members of the County Executive Committee. Chairpersons of the Republican auxiliary organizations shall be "Ex Officio" members of the County Executive Committee.

2. Powers and Duties

The County Executive Committee shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities; shall encourage qualified candidates for office within the County; shall adopt a budget; and shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments for County Board of Election; and shall have active management of Party affairs within the County. It shall approve a Finance Committee and an Auditing Committee of not less than three (3) Members each, and may approve such other Committees as may be deemed necessary. The County Chairman and Vice-Chairmen shall be Ex-officio Members of all Committees indicated in this paragraph, unless otherwise noted. 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.

3. Meetings

The County Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year upon call of the County Chairman after giving ten (10) days notice to all Members; or upon similar call of one-third (1/3) of the Members of the Committee. One-third (1/3) of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. There shall be no proxy voting.

4. Duties of Officers

a. The Chairman of the County Executive Committee, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the County. He shall issue the call for Annual Precinct Meetings, the County Convention, and Executive Committee meetings, and shall preside at all meetings of the County Executive Committee. He shall appoint a Finance Chairman, Auditing Committee, a newsletter editor, and any other chairmen deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee. He shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention, who may be himself except in odd years when officers are being elected. He shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Franklin County to the District Chairman. He shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every precinct within Franklin County. He shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within Franklin County and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District or State Committees; the County Chairman shall be an “Ex-Officio” member of all committees unless otherwise designated.

b. The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman, shall be responsible for precinct organization, shall maintain the records of the various subcommittees and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-Officio" member of all committees unless otherwise designated.

c. The Second Vice-Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, shall maintain a permanent database of all registered voters in Franklin County, and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee. The Second Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-Officio" member of all committees unless otherwise designated.

d. 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 Franklin County. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chairman and to the State Headquarters, up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen.

e. 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.

f. The Assistant Treasurer may be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall assist the Treasurer in all duties, shall function as Treasurer in the absence of the Treasurer, and may have such other duties as assigned by the Chairman.

5. Vacancies and Removals

a. In case of the death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the County, removal of any officer or member of the County Executive Committee, or any other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the County Executive Committee.

b. Any officer or member of the County Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the respective Committee 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 said cause for removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty or failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization. Such removal may be appealed within twenty (20) days to the State Central Committee, and their decision shall be final.

For purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty" shall be defined as supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party.

C. COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEES

1. Finance Committee

The County Finance Committee shall be composed of the County Finance Chairman, the County Chairman, County Vice-Chairman, the County Treasurer, and not less than three (3) persons approved by the County Executive Committee. They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees and shall have active management of fund-raising efforts within Franklin County.

2. Auditing Committee

The Auditing Committee, appointed by the County Chairman, shall conduct a yearly audit of the financial records of the County and report such audit to the County Executive Committee for approval.

ARTICLE IV
GENERAL CONVENTION PROCEDURE

A. CONVENTION PROCEDURES

1. Annual Conventions

The County Convention shall be called to order by the County Chairman, or in the absence of the 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.

2. Voting Procedure

No Delegate, Alternate or any other Member of a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy. No precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected Delegates on the floor at the County Convention. No person shall be seated as a Delegate at the County, District or State Convention unless such person shall have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct meeting or County Convention; except, the registered Republican or Republicans, present at a County convention from an unorganized Precinct, which has not had its credentials accepted, shall have the right to vote 1 vote per precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.

3. Newspaper of General Circulation

Notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County for the purpose of this Plan of Organization shall include either a paid advertisement or a news item, provided it includes the time, date, location and purpose of the Meeting. 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.

4. Challenges

Not withstanding 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 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.

5. General Election Procedure

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

ARTICLE V
EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN

A. AUTHORITY

1. Parliamentary Authority

Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with the 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.

B. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PLAN

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rule, except as specifically noted, immediately following adjournment of the Franklin County Convention in Louisburg, North Carolina on March 19, 2010. This, however, shall not invalidate any action taken under the previous rules prior to the date above.

2010 Plan of Organization Committee
Danny Pearce, Chairman