Wake County Republican Party Plan of Organization

As adopted by the Wake County Convention of May 15, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP, RIGHTS, AND DUTIES ARTICLE II. PRECINCT MEETINGS

ARTICLE III. PRECINCT COMMITTEE ARTICLE IV. COUNTY CONVENTION

ARTICLE V. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ARTICLE VI. FINANCES AND AUDITING

ARTICLE VII. GENERAL CONVENTION PROCEDURE

ARTICLE IX. APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Republican Party of Wake 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:

o   Government ought and must be of all the people,

o   By all the people, and

o   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 Wake County.

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP, RIGHTS, AND DUTIES

1.  Party Membership – Every citizen residing in of Wake County, North Carolina, and who is identified by and registered with the Wake County Board of Elections as Republican in the precinct of their residence is a member of the Republican

Party of Wake County, North Carolina.

2.  Right of Participation – Every party member may participate in the official affairs of the Republican Party in accordance with this Plan of Organization.

3.  Right to Represent Own Precinct – Every member who successfully completes the credentialing process during the Precincts Meetings has the right to represent their precinct as a delegate or alternate to the County Convention. Every delegate at the County Convention who successfully completes the credentialing process during the County Convention has the right to represent the County as a delegate or alternate at the Congressional District and State Conventions.

4.  Right to Hold Party Office – Every delegate to the County Convention has the right to run for County Party office.

5.  Duties – Every member of the Wake County Republican Party has a duty to vote. Every delegate and alternate to the conventions has a duty to vote.

ARTICLE II PRECINCT MEETINGS

1.  Annual Precinct Meetings:

A.     In every year, the County Chair shall call precinct meetings to be held the time specified in the State Plan of Organization for the North Carolina Republican Party.

B.     The County Chair shall give at least ten days' written notice of the time and place of holding the meeting to each Precinct Chair. The County Chair shall also inform the Precinct Chair as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the County Convention.

C.     The County Chair shall also give at least ten days’ notice of such meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.

D.    Failure of the County Chair to call and properly notify members of their Precinct Meetings shall be cause for any member of the County Executive Committee to call the precinct meetings by notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.

E.     Every Republican registered in Wake County prior to January 31 preceding the Meetings 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 30 days of the precinct meeting.

F.      If a precinct meeting is moved from the location designated by the County Chair, the Precinct Chair shall be responsible for complying with the procedure outlined below:

(1)  The Precinct Chair shall designate one member of the precinct to station himself at the location for the precinct meeting originally designated by the County Chair one-half hour prior to the designated meeting time.

(2)  He shall direct those attending to the correct location and he shall remain at the originally designated location until the time for the precinct meeting to begin.

(3)  Upon the departure of the above-referenced individual, he shall leave prominently displayed a sign directing all who arrive late to the alternate location being used for the precinct meeting.

G.   Odd year precinct meetings, with a quorum of at least one person, shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and as many members-at-large as receive a majority of votes cast at the meeting. Members of the Precinct Committee shall have terms lasting two years and shall be eligible for reelection at the expiration of their terms.

H.   Annual Precinct meetings shall elect one delegate and one alternate to the County Convention.

(1)  They shall also elect one additional delegate and alternate for each 100 registered Republican voters, or major fraction thereof, in the precinct as of January 31st of that year.

(2)  Election of delegates and alternates to the County Convention must be by name, address, and telephone number. Delegates must be qualified to vote in the meeting at which they are elected; and preference shall be given to the election of persons present at the meeting.

(3)  There shall be no proxy voting.

I.  The Chair 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 Chair.

(1)  No other form or manner of certification shall be valid.

(2)  Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the date specified by the County Chair, which shall be at least two days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting for the County Convention; provided, however, that when the Precinct Meetings and the County Convention are held the same day, the complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary at the time set by the County Chair on that day.

(3)  No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the Precinct Meeting.

(4)  The delegate list shall be made immediately available to any Republican candidate, at that candidate’s reasonable expense, after the County Chair receives a confidentiality and use agreement, signed by the candidate, stating that the list will be used only for Republican activities related to the candidate’s run for office.

3.    Other Precinct Meetings may be called under Article III, Section 4.

4.    If a Precinct fails to properly organize or the Precinct Chair fails to act, the County Chair shall appoint a temporary Precinct Chair to serve for a period not to exceed sixty days, during which time an Executive Committee shall be called and a new Precinct Chair shall be elected by the County Executive Committee. All Executive Committee members present at a County Executive Committee meeting at which a new Precinct Chair will be elected may vote in the election.

ARTICLE III

PRECINCT COMMITTEE

1.  Committee Members - The Precinct Committee shall consist of:

A.  Elected officers for the committee,

B.  All Block Captains within the precinct, and

C.  Volunteers as designated by the Precinct Chair.

2.  Duties of Committee - The Precinct Committee shall:

A.  Cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities;

B.  Provide the County Chair with a list of Party members within the Precinct qualified for appointment as election officials; and

C.  Promote the Mission and Core Values of the Party within the Precinct.

3.  Duties of Officers Duties:

A.  The Chair of the Precinct Committee, with the advice and consent of the Precinct Committee, shall:

(1)  Supervise the affairs of the Party within his precinct,

(2)  Conduct all meetings of the Precinct, and

(3)  Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Precinct and County Executive Committees.

B.  The Vice-Chair shall function as Chair in the absence of the Chair.

C.  The Secretary shall:

4.  Meetings:

(1)  Keep all minutes and records, and

(2)  Maintain a list of registered Republican voters and workers within the Precinct, unless otherwise provided by the Precinct and County Executive Committees.

A.  The Precinct Committee shall meet at the call of the Precinct Chair.

B.  The Precinct Chair shall give five days’ written, phone call, or email notice of such meeting.

C.  A Precinct Meeting may be called by one-third of the members of the Precinct Committee or ten members of the general precinct membership. Five days’ notice in writing, by phone call, or by email shall be given of the meeting.

D.  There shall be no proxy voting.

5.  Vacancies and Removals:

A.  Vacancies in Precinct Committee positions can occur due to:

(1)  Resignation,

(2)  Discontinuance of residency within the Precinct,

(3)  Death, and

(4)  The removal of any officers or members.

B.  The resulting vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the Precinct Committee.

C.  If the Precinct Committee fails to fill a vacancy within a reasonable period, the House District Chair and/or County Chair may do so, subject to the approval by the County Executive Committee.

D.  Removals:

(1) Any officer or member of the Precinct Committee may be removed for cause by a vote of the Precinct Committee.

a.  The officer or member to be removed will be presented with written notice of the charges signed by not less than two-thirds of the committee.

b.  The officer or member shall be given written notice at least twenty days prior to the meeting at which the Precinct Committee votes on whether to remove the officer or member and may present a defense at the meeting.

c.  Charges shall be confined to only:

1.  Gross inefficiency,

2.  Party disloyalty, and/or

3.  Intentional failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization.

d.  The vote of the Committee to remove the officer or member must be by two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting, which must have a quorum of at least one third of the total membership of the Precinct Committee.

e.  The officer or member may appeal the decision to the County Executive Committee within twenty days. The County Executive Committee must approve the decision by a vote of two thirds of those present at the meeting. The decision of the County Executive Committee shall be final.

E.  For the purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party Disloyalty," wherever stated, shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or unaffiliated candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party in any partisan election, or in non- partisan races, any candidate in opposition to a duly endorsed Republican candidate of the Wake County Republican Party, any District Committee, the State Executive Committee, or Legislative Caucus.

ARTICLE IV

COUNTY CONVENTION

1.  Call of the Convention

A.  A County Convention shall be called every year by the Chair of the County Executive Committee, at the County seat.

(1)  The Convention shall be held at the time specified in the State Plan of Organization for the North Carolina Republican Party.

(2)  The Chair shall give 15 days’ notice of such Convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.

B.    At the time of the call of the convention, the County Chair, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Credentials Committee, which shall meet and issue its report on delegates and alternates certified to that convention at least three days in advance of the convening of the convention. No member of the Credentials Committee shall be eligible to be elected to an officer or Executive Committee position at the County Convention for which the Credentials Committee serves, nor shall a committee member publicly support anyone for an office to be elected by the County Convention.

(1)  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 cases to the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the convention.

(2)  The delegates and alternates elected at the precinct meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as delegates and alternates at the County Convention.

C.  If the County Chair fails, refuses, or neglects to call a County Convention as required by this article, it shall become the duty of the First Vice-Chair to act in this capacity.

(1)  The First Vice Chair shall give five days’ notice thereof to all Precinct Chairs and County Executive Committee members.

(2)  The First Vice Chair shall give ten days’ notice thereof of such Convention in a newspaper of general circulation within the County.

D.  If the County Chair or First Vice-Chair does not call such a meeting, it shall be cause for any member of the County Executive Committee, with the approval of all of the Chairs of the Congressional Districts contained wholly or partially within Wake County, to call such a convention.

2.  Convention Business:

A.    Plan of Organization - Each year, the County Convention shall adopt a written Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at State Party Headquarters. However, if the County Convention fails to adopt a Plan of Organization, the previously adopted Plan of Organization shall remain in effect.

B.  County Party Officer Elections

(1)  In every odd-numbered year, the County Convention shall elect as County Officers:

a.  Chair,

b.  First Vice-Chair,

c.  Second Vice-Chair,

d.  Third Vice-Chair,

e.  Secretary,

f.  Assistant Secretary,

g.  Treasurer, and

h.  Assistant Treasurer

(2)    County Officers will serve for a term of two years or until their successors are elected.

(3)    The County Officers shall comprise the County Executive Board of the County Executive Committee.

(4)  Procedure for electing County Officers.

(a)  County Party resources shall not be used in support of or in opposition to any candidate for a County Officer position.

The Executive Committee may approve a method on an equal basis for information about candidates to be disseminated to delegates.

(b)  The County Convention shall vote on each position separately.

(c)  The Credentials Committee shall serve as a teller committee to oversee the election. The Credentials Committee may, in its discretion appoint additional tellers to assist in vote counting. Candidates for County Officer positions may appoint persons to observe the vote-counting process.

(d)  Voting for County Officer positions shall be by secret ballot unless the position is unopposed, in which case a voice vote may be taken.

(e)   County Officers shall not, in their official capacities as officers of the County Party, endorse any candidate or slate of candidates for County Officer positions.

(5)    The County Chair may appoint not more than two additional persons from the County Executive Committee as ex officio members of the County Executive Board.

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

C.    The County Convention shall elect delegates and alternates to the Congressional District and State Conventions.

(1)  The County Convention shall elect one delegate and one alternate plus one additional delegate and alternate for every 250 Republicans, or major fraction thereof, registered as of January 31 of that year.

(2)  The County Convention shall further elect one delegate and one alternate for each Republican elected to the State General Assembly and to public office on the state or national level from the County in the last election held for that office.

(3)  The delegate vote shall be prorated among the Congressional Districts in the County in accordance with the Republican registration as of January 31 of that year in the political subdivisions within Wake County which have been divided among the different Congressional Districts.

(4)  In the election of delegates and alternates, preference shall be given to the election of persons present at the meeting.

(5)  Only Republicans registered within Wake County by January 31 prior to the precinct meeting immediately prior to the County Convention may be elected delegates or alternates to Congressional District and State Conventions.

(6)  There shall be no proxy voting.

3.  Credentials

A.  The Chair 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.

B.  Completed credentials shall be delivered to the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadline set by the State Chair, which shall be no later than ten days following the date of the County Convention.

C.  No delegates or alternates shall be added to the credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention.

4.    State Convention Delegate Fee

A.  For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or Alternate to the State Convention, a fee set by the State Central Committee shall be paid by that Delegate or Alternate and forwarded to the State Party to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials.

ARTICLE V

COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1.  Membership. The voting members of the County Executive Committee shall consist of:

A.            The County Officers

B.            The five at-large individuals elected by the County Convention in accordance with Article IV, Section 2

C.            Standing Committee Chairs

2.  Republican Clubs:

A.  Republican clubs may be officially affiliated by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Such affiliation shall last until it is revoked by the Executive Committee by majority vote.

B.  The Executive Committee may, in its discretion, enact minimum criteria for Republican clubs to be in good standing. Any such criteria shall be made available on the County Party website, and a copy shall be kept with the County Party’s official records.

C.  As long as a Republican club is affiliated by the Executive Committee, the Chair or President of the club shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee.

The County Chair shall nominate a Legal Counsel and Chairs of the following Standing Committees, subject to approval by the County Executive Committee:

(1)  Finance

(2)  Organization

(3)  Events

(4)  Marketing and Public Relations

(5)  Candidate Development and Recruitment

(6)  Technology, and

(7)  Get Out the Vote

All standing committees shall be open to participation by any Executive Committee member. Members of the Executive Committee shall be given notice of committee formation and a reasonable amount of time, in the discretion of the County Chair, to join the committee.

The County Executive Committee may, in its discretion, limit the number of members on any standing committee. If more members wish to join a committee than are allowed by the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee shall vote on the members of the standing committee. The candidates for the committee shall be admitted to

membership on the committee in order of those receiving the most votes cast by the Executive Committee.

C.  The Legal Counsel and Standing Committee Chairs shall be voting members of the County Executive Committee and ex officio members of the County Executive Board.

D. The County Chair, in consultation with the Standing Committee Chairs, shall recommend for the County Executive Committee's approval Standing Committee members.

E.  Nothing in this Plan of Organization should be construed as prohibiting any individual from being elected as an officer in more than one of the organizations certified pursuant to Section A above. However, no individual by virtue of his election as an officer in one or more of such organizations shall be entitled to cast more than one vote during meetings of the County Executive Committee.

(1)       Any vote cast by such individual during meetings of the County Executive Committee shall be considered cast on behalf of the organization in which such individual was first elected to the position entitling them to a vote on the County Executive Committee.

(2)       Voting by proxy for such individual on behalf of any other organization entitling that individual to a vote on the County Executive Committee shall not be allowed. Rather, the Vice- Chair of such organization shall be entitled to exercise the rights and privileges of County Executive Committee membership on behalf of that organization during meetings of the County Executive Committee.

F.  All duly elected Precinct Chairs shall be ex officio members of the County Executive Committee.

G. All duly elected public officials at the federal, state, county, and municipal level who are residents of Wake County and registered in the County as Republicans shall be ex officio members of the County Executive Committee.

H. Ex officio membership of any committee or board entitles such member to participate in discussion and debate, including permission to advance any motion allowed by this Plan or Robert's Rules of Order, in connection with any matter considered by such committee or board.

However, ex officio membership does not entitle any such member to vote on any motion or other business considered by such committee or board.

2.  Powers and Duties

A.  The County Executive Committee shall:

(1)       Cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities,

(2)       Encourage qualified candidates within the County to run for elective office,

(3)       Adopt a budget each year,

(4)       Recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointment to the Wake County Board of Elections, and

(5)     Have active management of Party affairs within the County.

B.    The County Executive Committee shall conduct such other actions as may be necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the Party, to include:

(1)       The formulation of fiscal policy, preparation of a budget (based upon a budget recommended by the County Chair)

(2)       Annual review of the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan.

(3)       Initiating all campaigns and coordinating them as determined feasible and in the best interest of the Republican Party in Wake County.

(4)     Keeping accurate accounts of its proceedings.

C.  The County Executive Board shall meet at the call of the County Chair.

(1)    The County Executive Board shall:

a.  Formulate and promote the mission and goals of the Wake County Republican Party in accordance with the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan,

b.  Exercise oversight of the authorization and expenditure of funds and the execution of contracts for services, and

c.  Develop agendas for meetings of the County Executive Committee.

(2)    The County Executive Board may approve expenditures of funds and contracts for services within dollar limits established by the County Executive Committee.

(3)    The County Executive Board may act by in-person meeting, conference call, or email vote in which all members of the County Executive Board are included in the email and have a reasonable opportunity to comment on any proposal during the time allowed for voting.

(4)    A quorum of the County Executive Board, for purposes of an in- person meeting or conference call meeting, shall consist of one third of the County Executive Board membership. However, for an email vote, an affirmative vote requires a two-thirds vote of the whole membership of the board.

(5)    A written record of the decisions of the County Executive Board shall be kept with the records of the County Party.

(6)    Actions by the County Executive Board shall be subject to approval by the County Executive Committee.

D.   The County Chair and the First Vice-Chair shall be ex-officio members of all committees.

E.    The First Vice-Chair is to be considered the “Vice Chair” of the County Party, for NCGOP purposes.

3.  Meetings

A.  The County Executive Committee shall meet twice a year upon call of the County Chair after giving ten days’ notice to all members; or upon the similar call of one-third of the voting membership of the Committee. Other meetings of the County Executive Committee may be called by the County Chair after giving five days’ notice to all members.

B.  One-third of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

C.  There shall be no proxy voting.

4.  Duties of Officers

A.  The Chair, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the County.

(1)    The Chair shall issue the call for Precinct Meetings, the County Convention and County Executive Committee Meetings, and shall preside at all the meetings of the County Executive Committee.

(2)    The Chair shall make the appointments as provided in this Plan of Organization and, in addition to the Standing Committees, may appoint ad hoc committees deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee.

(3)    The Chair shall further appoint a temporary chair of the county convention, who may be himself.

(4)    The Chair shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within Wake County to the Congressional District Chairs.

(5)    The Chair shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within Wake County, and

(6)    The Chair shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District or State Committees.

(7)    The County Chair shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

(8)    In addition to these duties, the Chair shall annually prepare a Strategic Action Timeline based upon the Wake County Republican Party Strategic Plan.

a.  The Strategic Action Timeline shall be presented to the County Executive Board for review and approval no later than March of each year.

b.  The County Chair shall also prepare a proposed budget by March of each year for presentation to and approval by the County Executive Committee. The proposed budget shall be based upon the goals outlined in the Strategic Action Timeline.

B.  The First, Second, and Third Vice-Chairs, in succession, shall function as Chair in the absence of the Chair and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee.

C.  The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records and shall maintain a roster of all precinct officers and County Executive Committee members.

(1)     Such records shall be available, including all credentials lists upon request, to any registered Republican within the County.

(2)     The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chair and to State Headquarters up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairs.

D.  The Treasurer shall:

(1)     Receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the County Executive Committee,

(2)     Make a financial report at all County Executive Committee meetings, and

(3)     Fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws.

(4)     The Assistant Treasurer's sole responsibility shall be to make the financial report in the absence of the Treasurer, and to assist the Treasurer in their other duties.

E.  The Standing Committee Chairs shall:

(1)     Adopt an annual Strategic Action Timeline and a proposed budget based upon that Timeline by February of each year.

(2)     The Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget shall be presented to the respective Vice-Chair overseeing that Committee for review.

(3)     The Vice-Chairs shall present the annual Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget to the County Chair for use in preparing the Strategic Action Timeline and proposed budget referenced in Article V, Section 2 of this Plan of Organization.

5.  Vacancies and Removals

A.  Vacancies in County Executive Committee positions can occur due to:

(1)     Resignation,

(2)     Discontinuance of residency within the Precinct,

(3)     Death, and

(4)     The removal of any officers or members.

B.  The resulting vacancy shall be filled by an election by the County Executive Committee:

(1)     Except that immediately upon the office of Chair becoming vacant, the First Vice-Chair shall automatically succeed to the office of Chair until such an election is held.

(2)     In the event a current officer is elected Chair, the County Executive Committee shall elect new officers as needed to fill any vacancies.

C.  Removals:

(1)     Any officer or member of the County Executive Committee may be removed for cause by a vote of the County Executive Committee.

a.  The officer or member to be removed will be presented with written notice of the charges signed by not less than one-third of the committee.

b.  The officer or member will be allowed 30 days to appear and present a defense at an Executive Committee meeting.

c.  Charges shall be confined to only:

1.  Gross inefficiency,

2.  Party disloyalty, and/or

3.  Intentional failure to comply with the County or State Plans of Organization.

ARTICLE VI

d.  The vote of the County Executive Committee to remove the officer or member must be two-thirds or more of those present at the meeting.

e.  The officer or member may appeal the decision to the State Central Committee within 20 days, and the decision of the State Central Committee shall be final.

FINANCES AND AUDITING

1.  Finance Committee

A.  The County Finance Committee shall be composed of

(1)    The County Finance Committee Chair,

(2)    The County Chair,

(3)  The County Vice-Chair,

(4)  The County Treasurer, and

(5)  Not less than three persons approved by the County Executive Committee, as specified in Article V.

B.  They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Fi- nance Committees and shall have active management of fundraising efforts within the County.

2.  Auditing Committee

A.  The Auditing Committee, appointed by the County Chair and presented for the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall conduct a yearly audit of the financial records of the

County Party and report such audit to the County Executive Committee for approval.

3.  Expenditures

Any expenditure of funds, including the signing contracts for services, must be authorized in advance by the County Executive Committee.

(1)    Party expenditures or authority to sign contracts may also be authorized by the County Chair or County Treasurer within dollar limits or other parameters or conditions established by the County Executive Committee.

(2)    Any dollar limits, parameters, or conditions may be adopted by the County Executive Committee in the form of a standing fiscal policy.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL CONVENTION PROCEDURE

1.  Annual Conventions and Presidential Election Year Conventions

A.  The County Conventions shall be called to order by the Chair, or in the absence of the Chair, by the First Vice-Chair or the Second Vice-Chair, 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

A.  No delegate, alternate or any other member of a Convention shall cast any vote by proxy.

B.  No precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected delegates on the floor at the County Convention at the time of the vote.

C.  No person shall be seated as a delegate or alternate unless such person shall have been duly elected a delegate or alternate by the appropriate precinct meeting; except, the registered Republican or Republicans present at the County Convention from an unorganized precinct which has not had its credentials accepted shall have the right to vote one vote per precinct, pro-rated fractionally among those present from that precinct.

D.  Only delegates present on the floor are eligible to vote.

3.  Special Conventions

A.  The County Executive Committee, in the interests of the Wake County Republican Party, may direct the County Chair to issue calls for special organizational meetings and special County Conventions.

B.  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. This in no way relieves the Chair of the responsibility of the notice.

5.  Challenges

A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan of Organization, challenges to the seating of delegates and alternates must be made individually.

B.  Successful challenges shall not affect the seating of other delegates and alternates in the same precinct delegation unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that challenged delegates and alternates 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 the 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.

B.  No one shall be eligible for election as a delegate or alternate who is not present at the meeting or convention where such delegates or alternates are elected to the exclusion of another duly qualified,

registered Republican who is present and wishes to be elected as a delegate or alternate.

Proposed Rules of the Convention, which may be the previous year’s Rules of the Convention, shall be made available on the County Party website at least ten days prior to the County Convention. Any challenge to the sufficiency or legitimacy of the Rules must be made at the time that the Rules of the Convention are adopted.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

1.  Republican Primary Campaigns:

A.     Wake County Republican Party Executive Committee members, including District and Precinct officers, are encouraged to participate in primary campaigns; however, members shall not allow their titles or positions to be used in support of one primary candidate over another except as provided in Section B, below.

B.     While acting in their official capacities, Wake County Republican Party Executive Committee members, including District and Precinct officers, except as provided in Section 2 below, shall provide the same support and aid to all primary candidates such that one Republican candidate does not have an unfair advantage over another by having partial or exclusive use of the party organization.

C.     County Executive Board members shall not chair or co-chair a primary campaign.

2.  Wake County Republican Party Endorsements

A.     A candidate endorsement must not conflict with any censures passed by the State and/or Congressional District Executive Committees.

B.     In Republican primary elections, the Wake County Executive Committee can vote to endorse all, some or none of the Republican candidates running for office.

C.     In Non-Partisan primary and general elections, Congressional District and County Executive Committees shall have the exclusive authority to endorse registered Republicans running in Wake County.

(1)    The County Executive Committee shall only consider endorsing candidates in non-partisan races where the area served resides entirely within the County.

(2)    All members of the County Executive Committee may vote for non-partisan candidate endorsements regardless of whether or not some Committee members live within the serving area of the race in question.

(3)    In non-partisan statewide judicial elections, the NCGOP State Executive Committee has exclusive authority to endorse registered Republicans. The County Executive Committee endorsements of non-partisan, statewide judicial candidates shall agree with the State Executive Committee endorsements.

D.    With respect to any endorsement, unless otherwise provided by law, the County Executive Board shall send a written notice by email or United States mail to all committee members of the time, date, location, and purpose of any meeting at which any endorsement will be considered.

(1)  Notification will use the last known address of each committee member.

(2)  Notice must be sent at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting, unless good cause exists for shortening the time period.

(3)  In no case may the meeting be scheduled for a time and date less than five days after the notice to committee members.

(4)  Any committee member may request notices by regular mail at any time.

(5)    The County Executive Board shall send the notice to all registered Republicans who are candidates seeking the office for which the endorsement will be considered.

ARTICLE IX

APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN

1.  Parliamentary Authority – The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings except when inconsistent with the County Plan of Organization, the State Plan of Organization, or properly adopted

Convention Rules.

2.  Amendments:

A.     Any proposed amendment to this Plan of Organization shall not conflict with or confuse statements, provisions, or requirements found within the most recently adopted State Plan of Organization.

B.     Any proposed amendment to this Plan of Organization shall be presented to the County Executive Board for processing at least 30 days prior to the date of the County Convention.

C.     The County Executive Board shall review and approve all amendments for presentation to the County Convention AND REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALL AMENDMENTS BY THE NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. Approval or rejection of any amendment shall be based solely upon READABILITY AND SYNTAX, and the absence of conflicts and confusion with the State Plan of Organization and with other parts of the County Plan of Organization.

D.    The County Executive Committee shall have the power, for any reason, to override by a majority vote the decision of the County Executive Board with respect to any proposed amendment upon receiving any report of proposed amendments from the Executive Board. The County Executive Committee and shall have the power to propose additional amendments to the County Plan of Organization at least 30 days prior to the date of the County Convention.

E.     Any amendment proposing procedural and/or organizational changes to this Plan of Organization shall not be considered an unacceptable conflict. Rather, the County Executive Board shall only disapprove amendments proposing procedural and/or organizational changes to this Plan of Organization where the amendment does not address inconsistencies with other provisions of the County Plan of Organization.

F.      Any proposed amendment to this Plan of Organization shall be presented to the delegates at the next County Convention for a majority vote of the properly credentialed delegates present at the time of the vote.

G.    When it is determined that the County Plan of Organization is not consistent with the State Plan of Organization or is inconsistent with state or federal law, the County Executive Committee, at its next

meeting and within 90 days of the determination, must amend the County Plan of Organization to correct the inconsistency. In such circumstances, the amendment shall be made by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee. The substance of the proposed amendment shall be mailed by first class U.S. Mail to all members. If the proposed amendment is sent to a member by email and the member does not object on the basis of having not received the proposed amendment by U.S. Mail by the time of the meeting, such failure to object shall constitute a waiver of the objection.

H.    The County Executive Committee shall have the authority, by a two- thirds vote, to correct any spelling, typographical, or formatting errors in the Plan of Organization.

I.       All amendments to the Plan of Organization shall be submitted by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, to the NCGOP State Headquarters Executive Director, Political Director, and District Chairman within 30 days after their adoption.

3.  Effective Date of This Plan - This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately upon ratification.