NCGOP POO Proposed Changes Review

Thank you to Damon Rando (Vice Chair NW Precinct) for the following information.

To make comments to NCGOP, click here.

Comparison of the ten articles in the new Draft 9.9 and the old 2024
NCGOP Plan of Organization:

ARTICLE ONE - THE PARTY AND ITS MEMBERS

  • Party Definition:
    • Both plans define the North Carolina Republican Party as having the exclusive right to conduct affairs of the Republican Party in the state and establish constituent entities (precinct, county, district organizations).   
    • The new draft explicitly clarifies that municipal Republican Party organizations are not constituent entities and are not governed by the state plan.   
  • Membership:
    • Both plans affirm that the Party's authority comes from its members, defined as registered Republicans in North Carolina.   
    • The new draft includes a section detailing the "Rights of Members" to participate in Party affairs.   
    • Both plans specify that to run for a Party office, a person must be a member of the Party and a resident of the jurisdiction. The new draft provides an exception for the NC Federation of Teenage Republicans representative on the State Executive Committee.   
    • The 2024 plan gives the Executive Committee the power to disqualify a candidate for public office from Party recognition in certain registration circumstances.   

ARTICLE TWO - THIS PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

  • Scope and Amendments:
    • Both plans state that the Plan governs the Party's organization and operation and can be amended at any State Convention.   
    • Both plans incorporate Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised for meeting procedures.   
  • Plans of Constituent Entities:
    • Both plans allow County and District Parties to adopt their own Plans of Organization, as long as they are consistent with the State Plan. If they do not adopt their own, they are governed by the State Plan.   
  • Role of State Plan of Organization Committee:
    • The new draft provides a detailed description of the State Plan of Organization Committee's role. This includes:
      • Adopting drafting guidelines   
      • Proposing amendments   
      • Revising amendments from the State Convention floor   
      • Determining consistency of County/District Plans with the State Plan   
      • Creating a Model County Plan of Organization   
  •   The new draft also outlines how the Committee should handle corrections to the plan (e.g., spelling, grammar) without changing the intent.   
  • Temporary Amendments: The new draft includes a section on temporary amendments to comply with legal changes, which expire at the next State Convention.   
  • Effective Date of Amendments:
    • Both plans specify that amendments are effective upon adjournment of the State Convention unless otherwise specified.   
  • Consistency Determination:
    • The new draft provides a process for how to address inconsistencies between County or District Plans and the State Plan.   

ARTICLE THREE - PRECINCT ORGANIZATION

  • Precinct Committee:
    • Both plans outline the structure of the Precinct Committee (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary) and its duties. The new draft allows the Precinct Chair to appoint additional committee members.   
    • Both plans describe the duties of the officers.   
  • Term of Office: The new draft specifies that officers are elected in odd-numbered years and their term ends at the adjournment of the next odd-numbered year meeting.   
  • Vacancies and Removals:
    • Both plans address how vacancies in precinct offices are filled. The new draft clarifies the role of the County Chair in nominating replacements.   
    • Both plans discuss the removal of precinct officers. The new draft references specific grounds for removal defined in Article IX.   
  • Unorganized Precincts:
    • The new draft provides detailed procedures for dealing with unorganized precincts, including the appointment of a Non-Resident Administrator by the County Chair.   
  • Annual Precinct Meetings:
    • The new draft includes extensive rules for calling and noticing the Annual Precinct Meeting, eligibility to participate and be elected, registration and quorum, and election of officers and delegates.   
    • The 2024 plan specifies that precinct members do not need to be present to be elected as Delegates or Alternates.   
  • Other Precinct Meetings: The new draft allows for other precinct meetings to be called with proper notice.   
  • Certification of Meeting Results: The new draft requires prompt certification and delivery of Annual Meeting results and documents to the County Secretary and Credentials Committee Chair. The 2024 plan also has similar provisions.   

ARTICLE FOUR - COUNTY ORGANIZATION

  • Purpose: Both plans define the purpose of the County organization.   
  • County Executive Committee:
    • The new draft details the membership of the County Executive Committee, including required, additional, and optional members, as well as non-voting members. It specifically addresses the role of the General Counsel and Election Integrity Officer.   
    • Both plans outline the powers and duties of the Committee, including cooperation with other Party entities, budget adoption, and recommending nominees for the County Board of Elections.   
    • The new draft specifies the duties of the County Officers.   
  • Meetings: Both plans address County Executive Committee meetings.

ARTICLE FOUR - COUNTY ORGANIZATION

  • Purpose:
    • Both plans define the purpose of the County organization as creating an effective Republican organization in each county, under the leadership of the County Executive Committee and officers, to drive election victories.   
  • County Executive Committee:
    • Membership:
      • The new draft details the membership, including required members (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and five others), additional members as per the County Plan, and the role of the General Counsel (or Election Integrity Officer if no qualified General Counsel is available). It also allows for optional members and non-voting members.   
      • The 2024 plan specifies the County officers and others elected by the County Convention, and the County Finance Chair, as members of the Committee.   
    • Powers and Duties:
      • Both plans outline similar powers and duties, including cooperation with other Party entities, encouraging candidates, budget adoption, and management of Party affairs.   
      • The new draft specifies the Committee's role in recommending nominees for the County Board of Elections and ratifying or rejecting nominations by the County Chair.   
      • The 2024 plan emphasizes bringing the County Plan into compliance with the State Plan and procedures for amending the County Plan.   
    • Duties of Officers:
      • The new draft explicitly defines the duties of each County Officer (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer).   
      • Both plans address the Chair's responsibilities, including calling meetings, general supervision, and appointments.   
      • The new draft includes the General Counsel's duties, or the Election Integrity Officer's if there is no General Counsel.   
    • Meetings:
      • Both plans address meeting frequency, call, and quorum requirements.   
    • Vacancies and Removals:
      • Both plans discuss procedures for filling vacancies and removing officers.   

ARTICLE FIVE - DISTRICT ORGANIZATION

  • District Executive Committee:
    • Both plans detail the composition of the District Executive Committee.   
    • The new draft includes provisions for the Committee to support County Parties by eliciting reports and suggesting best practices.   
    • Both plans cover election of officers, duties of officers, vacancies and removals, and meetings.   

ARTICLE SIX - STATE ORGANIZATION

  • State Central Committee:
    • Both plans describe the membership and powers and duties of the State Central Committee.   
  • State Executive Committee:
    • Both plans detail the membership, powers, and duties of the State Executive Committee, including budget approval and election of officers.   
    • The new draft includes the Assistant General Counsel as a voting member of the Operating Committee.   

ARTICLE SEVEN - CONVENTIONS

  • Annual Precinct Meetings:
    • Both plans outline the call for meetings and election of precinct officers.   
  • County Conventions:
    • Both plans detail the call for conventions, convention actions, and credentials.   
  • District Conventions:
    • Both plans cover the call for conventions, convention actions, and credentials.   
  • State Convention:
    • The new draft includes details on the National Convention Selection Committee and related rules.   

ARTICLE EIGHT - NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE SELECTION

  • Both plans discuss delegate and alternate delegate allocation, congressional district selection, at-large selection, binding of delegates, and delegate fees.   

ARTICLE NINE - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

  • Both plans cover meeting procedures, voting procedures, challenges, election procedures, vacancies and removals, and party disloyalty.   
  • The new draft provides more detailed rules regarding endorsements in elections.   

ARTICLE TEN - AMENDMENTS, APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PLAN

  • Amendments:
    • Both plans discuss the process for amending the Plan of Organization.   
    • The new draft provides more detailed guidance on the role of the State Plan of Organization Committee in proposing, reviewing, and revising amendments, as well as correcting errors, and includes a section on temporary amendments.   
  • Applicability:
    • Both plans address the applicability of the Plan to constituent entities.   
    • The new draft emphasizes the authority of the State Plan and provides a process for determining consistency and resolving inconsistencies with County/District Plans.   
  • Authority: Both plans cover general principles.
  • Effective Date: Both plans specify when amendments and the overall plan become effective.