Quick Link Word Index
Democratic National Committee
430 South Capitol St., SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
PREAMBLE
We, the Democrats of the United States of America, united in common purpose, hereby rededicate ourselves to the principles which have historically sustained our Party. Recognizing that the vitality of the Nation's political institutions has been the foundation of its enduring strength, we acknowledge that a political party which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead, a party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people and a party which hopes to call forth the best the Nation can achieve must embody the best of the Nation's heritage and traditions.
What we seek for our Nation, we hope for all people: individual freedom in the framework of a just society, political freedom in the framework of meaningful participation by all citizens. Bound by the United States Constitution, aware that a party must be responsive to be worthy of responsibility, we pledge ourselves to. open, honest endeavor and to the conduct of public affairs in a manner worthy of a society of free people.
Under God, and for these ends and upon these principles, we do establish and adopt this Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States of America.
Article One
The Democratic Party of the United States of America [Return to Top]
The Democratic Party of the United States of America shall:
Section 1. Nominate and assist in the election of Democratic candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States;
Section 2. Adopt and promote statements of policy;
Section 3. Assist state and local Democratic Party organizations in the election of their candidates and the education of their voters;
Section 4. Establish standards and rules of procedure to afford all members of the Democratic Party full, timely and equal opportunities to participate in decisions concerning the selection of candidates, the formulation of policy, and the conduct of other Party affairs, without prejudice on the basis of sex, race, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic identity or physical disability, and further, to promote fair campaign practices and the fair adjudication of disputes. Accordingly, the scheduling of Democratic Party affairs at all levels shall consider the presence of any religious minorities of significant numbers of concentration whose level of participation would be affected;
Section 5. Raise and disburse monies needed for the successful operation of the Democratic Party;
Section 6. Work with Democratic public officials at all levels to achieve the objectives of the Democratic Party; and
Section 7. Encourage and support codes of political ethics that embody substantive rules of ethical guidance for public officials and employees in federal, state and local governments, to assure that public officials shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that reflects creditably upon the office they serve, shall not use their office to gain special privileges and benefits and shall refrain from acting in their official capacities when their independence of judgement would be adversely affected by personal interest or duties.
Article Two
National Convention [Return to Top]
Section 1. The Democratic Party shall assemble in National Convention in each year in which an election for the office of President of the United States is held.
Section 2. The National Convention shall be the highest authority of the Democratic Party, subject to the provisions of this Charter. The National Convention shall recognize the state and other Parties entitled to participate in the conduct of the national affairs of the Democratic Party, including its conventions, conferences and committees. State Party rules or state laws relating to the election of delegates to the National Convention shall be observed unless in conflict with this Charter and other provisions adopted pursuant to authority of the Charter, including the resolutions or other actions of the National Convention. In the event of such conflict with state laws, state Parties shall be required to take provable positive steps to bring such laws into conformity and to carry out such other measures as may be required by the National Convention or the Democratic National Committee.
Section 3. The National Convention shall nominate a candidate for the office of President of the United States, nominate a candidate for the office of Vice President of the United States, adopt a platform and act upon such other matters as it deems appropriate.
Section 4. The National Convention shall be composed of delegates equally divided between men and women. The delegates shall be chosen through processes which:
(a) assure all Democratic voters full, timely and equal opportunity to participate and include affirmative action programs toward that end,
(b) assure that delegations fairly reflect the division of preferences expressed by those who participate in the Presidential nominating process,
(c) exclude the use of the unit rule at any level,
(d) do not deny participation for failure to pay a cost, fee or poll tax,
(e) restrict participation to Democrats only, and
(f) except with respect to persons referred to in Section 5(b) of this Article, begin within the calendar year of the Convention, provided, however, that fairly apportioned and openly selected state Party Committees, elected no earlier than January 1 of the preceding mid-term Congressional election year, from states not having state conventions authorized to elect delegates shall not be precluded from selecting such portion of their respective state delegations, according to the standards provided in this Charter and the Bylaws, as may be specifically authorized by the Democratic National Committee in the Call to the Convention,
(g) prohibit unpledged and uncommitted delegates, except delegates or alternates expressing an uncommitted preference shall be permitted to be elected at the district level, in which event, if such preference meets the applicable threshold and qualifies for at-large or similar delegates or alternates, such at-large or similar delegates or alternates shall be allocated to that uncommitted preference as if it were a presidential candidate,
(h) notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Section:
(i) provide for all of the members of the Democratic National Committee to serve as unpledged delegates,
(ii) provide for each state, territory or commonwealth to select a number of unpledged delegates equal to one (1) such delegate for every four (4) votes on the Democratic National Committee from that state, territory or commonwealth, pursuant to Article Three, Section 2(a) and 2(b) of the Charter, and
(iii) permit unpledged delegates consisting of:
1) the President and Vice President of the United States, if Democrats,
2) the Democratic members of the United States Senate and the Democratic members of the House of Representatives,
3) the Democratic Governors,
4) former Democratic Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States,
5) former Democratic Majority Leaders of the United States Senate,
6) former Democratic Speakers of the United States House of Representatives
7) former Chairs of the Democratic National Committee,
8) such delegates shall not be permitted to have alternates and such delegates shall constitute an exception to Subsection (b) of this Section 4.
Section 5. The delegate vote allocable to each state shall be determined as provided in the Bylaws, consistent with the formula:
(a) giving equal weight to population, which may be measured by electoral vote, and to the Democratic vote in elections for office of the President, and
(b) which shall also provide additional delegate positions to members of the Democratic National Committee; and
(c) which may also provide additional delegate positions to Democratic elected public officials specifically designated by the Democratic National Committee in the Call to the Convention, subject to the provisions of Section 4.
Article Three
Democratic National Committee [Return to Top]
Section 1. The Democratic National Committee shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions, subject to the provisions of this Charter and to the resolutions or other actions of the National Convention. This responsibility shall include:
(a) issuing the Call to the National Convention;
(b) conducting the Party's Presidential campaign;
(c) filling vacancies in the nominations for the office of President and Vice President;
(d) formulating and disseminating statements of Party policy;
(e) providing for the election or appointment of a Chairperson, five Vice Chairpersons, three of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, one of whom shall be the President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and one of whom shall be the Vice Chairperson for Voter Registration and Participation, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a National Finance Chair and other appropriate officers of the National Committee and for the filling of vacancies; and
(f) all other actions necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the provisions of this Charter and the objectives of the Democratic Party.
Section 2. The Democratic National Committee shall be composed of:
(a) the Chairperson and the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex of each recognized state Democratic Party;
(b) two hundred additional members apportioned to the states on the basis set forth in Article TWO, Section 5(a) of the Charter, consistent with the full participation goals of Sections 3 and 4 of Article Eight of the Charter; provided that each state shall have at least two such additional members;
(c) the Chairperson of the Democratic Governors' Association and two additional governors, of whom, to the extent possible, at least one shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Association;
(d) the Democratic Leader in the United States Senate and the Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives and one additional member of each body, who, to the extent possible, shall be of the opposite sex of, and appointed by, the respective leaders;
(e) the Chairperson, the five Vice Chairpersons, the National Finance Chair, the Treasurer, and the Secretary of the DNC;
(f) the Chairperson of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and two additional mayors, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(g) the President of the Young Democrats of America and two additional members, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the President, as selected by the organization biennially in convention assembled;
(h) the Chairperson of the Democratic County Officials and two additional county officials, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the organization;
(i) the Chairperson of the Democratic State Legislative Leaders Association and two additional state legislators, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Association;
(j) the Chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference and two additional municipal officials, at least one of whom shall. be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(k) the President of the National Federation of Democratic Women and two additional members selected by the Federation;
(l) the President of the College Democrats of America and the Vice President, who shall be of the opposite sex, as elected by the organization annually;
(m) the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic State Treasurers and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(n) the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lieutenant Governors and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(o) the Chairperson of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(p) additional members as provided in Article Nine of this Charter. No more than sixty-five additional members of the Democratic National Committee may be added by the foregoing members.
Section 3. Members of the Democratic National Committee apportioned to the states and those provided for in Article Eleven who are not otherwise members by virtue of Party office, shall be selected by each state Democratic Party in accordance with standards as to participation established in the Bylaws of the Democratic Party for terms commencing on the day the National Convention adjourns and terminating on the day the next Convention adjourns. Such members shall be selected during the calendar year in which a National Convention is held, through processes which assure full, timely and equal opportunity to participate. Vacancies shall be filled by the state Party as provided in the Bylaws. The members of the National Committee from each state shall be divided as equally as practicable between committeemen and committeewomen. Members of the Democratic National Committee who serve by virtue of holding public or Party office shall serve on the Committee only during their terms in such office. Members of the Democratic National Committee added by the other members shall serve a term that runs conterminously with the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, through the election of the new Chairperson, and until their successors are chosen; members in this category shall have the right to vote for the new Chairperson. Members of the Democratic National Committee who serve by virtue of hold state Party office shall be selected by such Parties in accordance with standards as to participation established in the Bylaws.
Section 4. The Bylaws may provide for removal of members of the Democratic National Committee for cause by a two-thirds vote of the National Committee and may also require continued residence in the jurisdiction represented by the member and affirmative support for the Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees as a condition of continued membership thereon.
B
Section 5. The Democratic National Committee shall meet at least once each year. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson, by the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee, or by written request of no fewer than one-fourth of the members of the Democratic National Committee.
Article Four
Executive Committee [Return to Top]
Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee, which shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Democratic Party subject to this Charter, the National Convention and the Democratic National Committee.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be elected by and serve at the pleasure of the members of the Democratic National Committee. The size, composition and term of office shall be determined by the Democratic National Committee, provided that the number of members elected by the regional caucuses of members of the Democratic National Committee shall be no fewer than fourteen less than the number selected by other means.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times each year. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson or by written request of no fewer than one-fourth of its members. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings which shall be available to the public.
Article Five
National Chairperson [Return to Top]
Section 1. The National Chairperson of the Democratic Party shall carry out the programs and policies of the National Convention and the Democratic National Committee.
Section 2. The National Chairperson, the five Vice Chairpersons, the National Finance Chair, the Treasurer, and the Secretary, shall be elected:
(a) at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee held after the succeeding presidential election and prior to March 1 next, and,
(b) whenever a vacancy occurs. The National Chairperson shall be elected and may be removed by a majority vote of the Democratic National Committee, and each term shall expire upon the election for the following term.
Section 3. The National Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Democratic National Committee and of the Executive Committee. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the National Chairperson, the designated Vice Chair as provided for in Article Two, Section 12(b) of the Bylaws, or the next-highest-ranking officer of the National Committee present at the meeting shall preside.
Section 4. The National Chairperson shall serve full time and shall receive such compensation as may be determined by agreement between the Chairperson and the Democratic National Committee. In the conduct and management of the affairs and procedures of the Democratic National Committee, particularly as they apply to the preparation and conduct of the Presidential nomination process, the Chairperson shall exercise impartiality and even-handedness as between the Presidential candidates and campaigns. The Chairperson shall be responsible for ensuring that the national officers and staff of the Democratic National Committee maintain impartiality and even-handedness during the Democratic Party Presidential nominating process.
Article Six
Party Conference [Return to Top]
The Democratic Party may hold a National Party Conference between National Conventions. The nature, agenda, composition, time and place of the Party Conference shall be determined by the Democratic National Committee.
Article Seven
National Finance Organizations [Return to Top]
Section 1. The Democratic National Committee shall establish National Finance Organizations which shall have general responsibility for the finances of the Democratic Party. These National Finance Organizations shall raise funds to support the Democratic Party and shall advise and assist state Democratic Parties and candidates in securing funds for their purposes.
Section 2. The National Finance Chair shall be elected or approved by the Democratic National Committee.
Article Eight
Full Participation [Return to Top]
Section 1. The Democratic Party of the United States shall be open to all who desire to support the Party and who wish to be known as Democrats.
Section 2. Discrimination in the conduct of Democratic Party affairs on the basis of sex, race, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic identity or physical disability is prohibited, to the end that the Democratic Party at all levels be an open party.
Section 3. To encourage full participation by all Democrats, with particular con for minority groups, Blacks, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Hispanics, women and youth in the delegate selection process and in all Party affairs, as defined in the Bylaws, the National and State Democratic Parties shall adopt and implement an affirmative action program which provides for representation as nearly as practicable of the aforementioned groups, as indicated by their presence in the Democratic electorate. This program shall include specific goals and timetables to achieve this purpose.
Section 4. This goal shall not be accomplished either directly or indirectly by the national or state Democratic Parties' imposition of mandatory quotas at any level of the delegate selection process or in any other Party affairs, as defined in the Bylaws; however, representation as nearly as practicable of minority groups, Blacks, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, Hispanics, women and youth, as indicated by their presence in the Democratic electorate, as provided in this Article, shall not be deemed a quota.
Section 5. Performance under an approved affirmative action program and composition of the Convention delegation shall be considered relevant evidence in the challenge of any state delegation. If a state Party has adopted and implemented an approved and monitored affirmative action program, the Party shall not be subject to challenge based solely on delegate composition or solely on primary results.
Section 6. Notwithstanding Section 5 above, equal division at any level of delegate or committee positions between delegate men and delegate women or committeemen and committeewomen shall not constitute a violation of any provision thereof.
Article Nine
General Provisions [Return to Top]
Section 1. Democratic Party means the Democratic Party of the United States of America.
Section 2. The Bylaws shall provide for states in which the Democratic nominee for President or electors committed to the nominee did not appear on the ballot in elections used for apportionment formulae.
Section 3. For the purposes of this Charter, the District of Columbia shall be treated as a state containing the appropriate number of Congressional Districts.
Section 4. For the purposes of this Charter, Puerto Rico shall be treated as a state containing the appropriate number of Congressional Districts.
Section 5. Recognized Democratic Party organizations in areas not entitled to vote in Presidential elections may elect such voting delegates to National Conventions as the Democratic National Committee provides in the Call to the Convention.
Section 6. Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa shall each have one vote on the Democratic National Committee, which vote shall be shared by the Chairperson, the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex, the National Committeeman and the National Committeewoman, except as may otherwise be provided by the Bylaws. Democrats Abroad shall have two votes on the Democratic National Committee, which votes shall be shared by the Chairperson, the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex, three National Committeemen and three National Committeewomen except as may otherwise be provided by the Bylaws.
Section 7. The Bylaws shall provide for regional organizations of the Party.
Section 8. To assure that the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States is selected by a fair and equitable process, the Democratic National Committee may adopt such statements of policy as it deems appropriate with respect to the timing of Presidential nominating processes and shall work with state Parties to accomplish the objectives of such statements.
Section 9. The Democratic National Committee shall maintain and publish a code of fair campaign practices, which shall be recommended for observance by all candidates campaigning as Democrats.
Section 10. The Democratic Party shall not require a delegate to a Party convention or caucus to cast a vote contrary to his or her expressed preference.
Section 11. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted at the National Convention. Voting by proxy shall otherwise be permitted in Democratic Party affairs only as provided in the Bylaws of the Democratic Party.
Section 12. All meetings of the Democratic National Committee, the Executive Committee, and all other official Party committees, commissions and bodies shall be open to the public, and votes shall not be taken by secret ballot.
Section 13. The Democratic National Committee shall prepare and make available to the public an annual report concerning the financial affairs of the Democratic Party.
Section 14. In the absence of other provisions, Robert's Rules of Order (as most recently revised) shall govern the conduct of all Democratic Party meetings.
Section 15. The text of the Charter and the Bylaws, or portions thereof, shall be made available in other languages as needed upon reasonable request.
Section 16. The membership of the Democratic National Committee, the Executive Committee, Democratic state central committees, and all national official Party Conventions, committees, commissions, and like bodies shall be equally divided between men and women. State Parties shall take provable positive steps to achieve legislative e changes to bring the law into compliance with this provision wherever this provision conflicts with state statutes.
Section 17. Democratic Party Credo. We Democrats are the oldest political party in America and the youngest in spirit. We will remain so, because we enjoy the challenge of government. Tune and again, for almost two centuries, the Democratic Party has made government work—to build and defend a nation, to encourage commerce, to educate our children, to promote equal opportunity, to advance science and industry to support the arts and humanities, to restore the land, to develop and conserve our human and natural resources, to preserve and enhance our built environment, to relieve poverty, to explore space. We have reached difficult and vital goals.
We recognize that the capacity of government is limited but we regard democratic government as a force for good and a source of hope.
At the heart of our party lies a fundamental conviction, that Americans must not only be free, but they must live in a fair society.
We believe it is the responsibility of government to help us achieve this fair society:
· a society where the elderly and the disabled can lead lives of dignity and where Social Security remains an unshakable commitment;
· a society where all people can find jobs in a growing full-employment economy;
· a society where all workers are guaranteed without question the legal right to join unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions of employment;
· a society where taxes are clearly based on ability to pay;
· a society where the equal rights of women are guaranteed in the Constitution;
· a society where the civil rights of minorities are fully secured and where no one is denied the opportunity for a better life;
· a society where both public and private discrimination based upon race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, philosophical persuasion or physical disability are condemned and where our government moves aggressively to end such discrimination through lawful means;
· a society where we recognize that the strengthening of the family and the protection of children are essential to the health of the nation;
· a society where a sound education, proper nutrition, quality medical care, affordable housing, safe streets and a healthy environment are possible for every citizen;
· a society where the livelihoods of our family farmers are as stable as the values they instill in the American character;
· a society where a strong national defense is a common effort, where promoting human rights is a basic value of our foreign policy, and where we ensure that future by ending the nuclear arms race.
This is our purpose and our promise.
Article Ten
Amendments, Bylaws, and Rules [Return to Top]
Section 1. This Charter may be amended by a vote of a majority of all of the delegates to the National Convention, provided that no such amendment shall be effective unless and until it is subsequently ratified by a vote of the majority of the entire membership of the Democratic National Committee. This Charter may also be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the Democratic National Committee. At least thirty days written notice shall be given of any National Committee meeting at which action will be taken pursuant to this Section, and any proposed amendment shall be given to all members of the National Committee and shall be released to the national news media. This Charter may also be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of any Democratic Party Conference called under the authority of this Charter for such purpose.
Section 2. Bylaws of the Democratic Party shall be adopted to provide for the governance of the affairs of the Democratic Party in matters not provided for in this Charter. Bylaws may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of:
(a) the National Convention; or
(b) the Democratic National Committee provided that thirty days written notice of any proposed Bylaw or amendment has been given to all members of the National Committee.
Unless adopted in the form of an amendment to this Charter or otherwise designated, any resolution adopted by the National Convention relating to the governance of the Party shall be considered a Bylaw.
Section 3. Each official body of the Democratic Party created under the authority of this Charter shall adopt and conduct its affairs in accordance with written rules, which rules shall be consistent with this Charter, the Bylaws and other provisions adopted pursuant to authority of the Charter, including resolutions or other actions of the National Convention. The Democratic National Committee shall maintain copies of all such rules and shall make them available upon request.
Section 4. Each recognized state Democratic Party shall adopt and conduct its affairs in accordance with written rules. Copies of such rules and of any changes or amendments thereto shall be filed with the Democratic National Committee within days following adoption.
Resolution of Adoption [Return to Top]
Section 1. The Democratic Party of the United States of America, assembled in a Conference on Democratic Party Organization and Policy pursuant to resolution adopted by the 1972 Democratic National Convention and the Call to the Conference hereby adopts for the governance of the Party the Charter attached hereto.
“Adopted Pursuant to the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States”
Article One
Democratic National Convention [Return to Top]
Section 1. The National Convention is the highest authority of the Democratic Party, subject to the provisions of the Charter.
Section 2. The National Convention shall adopt permanent rules governing the conduct of its business at the beginning of each Convention, and until the adoption of such permanent rules, the Convention and the activities attendant thereto shall be governed by temporary rules set forth in the Call to the National Convention.
Section 3. Delegates to the National Convention shall be allocated in the Call to the Convention consistent with the Charter.
Article Two
Democratic National Committee [Return to Top]
Section 1. Duties and Powers. The Democratic National Committee shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions, subject to the provisions of the Charter and to the resolutions or other official actions of the National Convention. This responsibility shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Issuing the Call to the National Convention; (b) Conducting the Party's Presidential Campaign;
(c) Filling vacancies in the nominations for the office of the President and Vice President;
(d) Assisting state and local Democratic Party organizations in the election of their candidates and the education of their voters;
(e) Formulating and disseminating statements of Party policy, promoting programs for the systematic study of public policy issues, through participation of members of the Democratic National Committee and through specific projects administered under the authority of the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee;
(f) Providing for the election or appointment of a Chairperson, five Vice Chairpersons, three of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, one of whom shall be the President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and one of whom shall be Vice Chairperson for Voter Registration and Participation, a Treasurer, a National Finance Chair, a Secretary and other appropriate officers of the National Committee as shall be determined by the Committee, and for the filling of vacancies;
(g) Establishing and maintaining National Headquarters of the Party;
(h) Promoting and encouraging Party activities at every level, including but not limited to the following:
(i) promoting and encouraging implementation of all Party mandates;
(ii) the fulfillment by the Party of its platform pledge and other commitments;
(iii) establishment and support of an adequate system of political research;
(iv) the preparation, distribution and communication of Party information to its members and the general public;
(v) the development and maintenance of a program of public relations for the Party; and
(vi) development of a program for the coordination of Party committees, organizations, groups, public officials and members.
(i) Devising and executing ways and means of financing activities of the Party;
(j) Taking such other action as may be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions of the Charter, these Bylaws, the resolutions and other official actions to achieve the objectives of the Party and the Convention; and
(k) Approval of the budget of the Democratic National Committee.
Section 2. Membership. The Democratic National Committee shall be composed of:
(a) The Chairperson and the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex of each recognized state Democratic Party as defined by Article Nine of the Charter,
(b) Two hundred additional members apportioned to the states on the basis set forth in Article Two, Section 5(a) of the Charter, provided that each state shall have at least two additional members;
(c) The Chairperson of the Democratic Governors' Association and two additional governors, of whom, to the extent possible, at least one shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Association;
(d) The Democratic Leader in the United States Senate and the Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives arid one additional member of each body, who, to the extent possible, shall be of the opposite sex of, and appointed by the respective leaders;
(e) The Chairperson, five Vice Chairpersons, the National Finance Chair, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee;
(f) The Chairperson of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and two additional mayors, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(g) The President of the Young Democrats of America and two additional members, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the President, as selected by the organization biennially in convention assembled;
(h) The President of the National Federation of Democratic Women and two additional members selected by the Federation;
(i) The Chairperson of the Democratic County Officials and two additional members, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the organization;
(j) The Chairperson of the Democratic State Legislative Leaders Association and two additional state legislators, at least one of whom shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Association;
(k) The Chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference and two additional municipal officials, of whom, to the extent possible, at least one shall be of the opposite sex of the Chairperson, as selected by the Conference;
(1) Additional members as provided in Article Nine of the Charter;
(m) The President of the College Democrats of America and the Vice President, who shall be of the opposite sex, as elected by the organization annually;
(n) The Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic State Treasurers and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(o) The Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lieutenant Governors and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(p) The Chairperson of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State and the Vice Chair, who shall be of the opposite sex, as selected by the Association;
(q) No more than sixty-five additional members of the Democratic National Committee may be added by the foregoing members.
Section 3. Selection of Members.
(a) Members of the Democratic National Committee apportioned to the states pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Article and those apportioned pursuant to the provisions of Article Nine of the Charter who are not otherwise members by virtue of Party office shall be selected by each state or territorial Democratic Party in accordance with standards as to participation established under Section 11 of this Article through processes which assure full, timely and equal opportunity to participate. The method of selection for such members shall be described in detail in each state or territory's Party rules and shall be by one of the following methods or any combination thereof:
(i) by a meeting of the National Convention delegation from the state or territory authorized to elect National Committee members, at an open meeting called within the calendar year of the Convention after effective public notice of the agenda; Primary
(ii) by state or territorial y within the calendar year of the National Convention;
(iii) by state or territorial Party committees in an open meeting within the calendar year of the National Convention called after effective public notice of the agenda;
(iv) by a state or territorial convention authorized to select national committee members in an open meeting within the calendar year of the National Convention called after effective public notice of the agenda; and
(v) by such other method as may be adopted by a state or territorial Party and approved by the Democratic National Committee
(b) Selection by any of the above r methods shall be held to meet the requirements of full, timely and equal opportunity to participate if the selecting body has been established according to law and the Charter and the rules of such body have been approved by the Democratic National Committee.
(c) Members of the Democratic National Committee who serve by virtue of holding Party office shall be selected by each state Party in accordance with standards as to participation appearing in Section 11 of this Article.
(d) When the number of members apportioned to a state or territory pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Article or Article Nine of the Charter is even, there shall be equal division of members between men and women. In such cases where the number is odd, the variance between men and women may not be greater than one.
Section 4. Certification and Eligibility of Members.
(a) Members of the Democratic National Committee provided for in Section 2 of this Article shall be certified to the National Committee as follows:
(i) those authorized under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 2 shall be certified by the proper Party authority of the state or territory;
(ii) those authorized under subsection (c) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Democratic Governors' Association;
(iii) those authorized under subsection (d) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Democratic Leader in the United States Senate for the members from that body and by the Democratic Leader in the United States House of Representatives for the members from that body;
(iv) those authorized under subsection (f) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Conference of Democratic Mayors;
(v) those authorized under subsection (g) of Section 2 shall be certified by the President of the Young Democrats of America;
(vi) those authorized under subsection (h) of Section 2 shall be certified by the President of the National Federation of Democratic Women;
(vii) those authorized under subsection (i) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Democratic County Officials Conference;
(viii) those authorized under subsection (j) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Democratic State Legislative Leaders Association;
(ix) those authorized under subsection (k) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference;
(x) those authorized under subsection (m) of Section 2 shall be certified by the President of the College Democrats of America;
(xi) those authorized under subsection (n) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic State Treasurers;
(xii) those authorized under subsection (o) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the National Association of Democratic Lieutenant Governors:
(xiii) those authorized under subsection (p) of Section 2 shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State;
(xiv) those otherwise authorized under Section 2
shall be certified by the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee.
(b) No person who is not or who does not continue to be a resident for voting purposes of the jurisdiction which he or she represents shall be eligible to hold such office.
(c) No person shall be entitled to vote in a challenge to his or her credentials.
(d) Contests involving membership or to credentials of members shall be heard d adjudicated by the National Committee as ed or provided in Article Two, Section 10(b) of these Bylaws.
Section 5. Resignation or Removal of Members.
(a) A member of the Democratic National Committee may resign by written notice to the Chairperson of the National Committee, and such resignation shall be effective immediately.
(b) After notice and opportunity for public hearing and upon grounds found by the National Committee to constitute good and sufficient cause, the National Committee may remove a member by two-thirds vote of the National Committee.
(c) Failure of any member of the Nation al Committee to declare affirmatively his or her support for the Democratic Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees within thirty (30) days after the adjournment of the National Convention shall constitute good and sufficient cause for removal.
Section 6. Vacancies. Vacancies created toy resignation or removal of any member of the National Committee shall be filled as follows:
(a) Vacancies in membership apportioned to the states and territories pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Article and Article Nine of the Charter shall be filled by a state or territorial Party in en meeting called after effective public notice of the agenda.
(b) Vacancies created by the removal or resignation of a state Chairperson or highest ranking officer of the opposite sex shall be filled only, by their successors in accordance with Section 3(b) of this Article.
(c) Vacancies in the at-large membership of the National Committee shall be filled by the National Committee.
(d) Vacancies in positions filled by the Democratic Governors' Association, the Democratic Mayors Conference, the House and Senate Leadership, the Young Democrats of America, the Democratic County Officials Conference, the State Legislative Leaders Association, the National Federation of Democratic Women, the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference, and the College Democrats of America shall be filled by the selecting authority, and in the case where the selecting authority is not in session nor will be in session for a year subsequent to the vacancy, by the body charged with fulfilling the responsibilities of operating the organization between meetings of the full group.
Section 7. Meetings.
(a) The National Committee shall meet as soon as possible after the adjournment of the National Convention on the call of the Chairperson. The Committee is authorized to organize with those members already selected, including any person seated temporarily as provided in Section 10(b)(iv) and entitled to serve as of the first meeting of the Committee. They shall select those members of the Executive Committee who are selected by the Regional Caucuses, who shall serve with those who serve by reason of office until the next regular meeting of the Democratic National Committee.
(b) At least two meetings of the National Committee shall be held each year upon call of the Chairperson and after notice to members, unless any such meeting is dispensed with by prior vote of a majority of the full membership of the National Committee.
(c) Special meetings of the National Committee may be held upon the call of the Chairperson with the approval of the Executive Committee with reasonable notice to the members, and no action may be taken at such a special meeting unless such proposed action was included in the notice of the special meeting. The foregoing notwithstanding, a special meeting to fill a vacancy on the National ticket shall be held on the call of the Chairperson, who shall set the date for such meeting in accordance with the procedural rules provided for in Article Two, Section 8(d) of these Bylaws.
(d) No later than thirty (30) days before each regularly scheduled meeting, and as soon as possible before a special meeting of the Democratic National Committee, the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee shall send written notice of the date, time and place of such meeting, and the tentative agenda to all members of the Democratic National Committee.
(e) Upon the written request of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the members of the National Committee, filed with the Chairperson within a period of thirty (30) days, it shall be the duty of the Chairperson within fifteen (15) days from receipt of such request to issue a call for a meeting of the National Committee. The date of such meeting shall be fixed by the Chairperson not later than thirty (30) days nor earlier than fifteen (15) days from the date of the call.
Section 8. Quorum and Voting.
(a) A majority of the full membership of the Democratic National Committee present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum, provided that no less than forty percent (40%) of the full membership be present in person n for the purpose of establishing a quorum; provided, however, that for purposes of voting to fill it vacancy on the National ticket, a quorum shall be a majority of the full membership present in person.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Charter or in these Bylaws, all questions before the Democratic National Committee shall be determined by majority vote of those members present and voting in person or by proxy.
(i) Up to sixty-five additional m embers at-large of the Democratic National Co: Committee added by the remaining members pursuant to Article Three, Section 2 of the Charter and ten members at-large of the Executive Committee selected by the Democratic National Committee pursuant to Article Three, Section 2 of the Bylaws may be elected by plurality vote of the members voting in person or by proxy; and
(ii) A roll call may be requested by a vote of twenty-five percent (25%) of those Democratic National Committee members present and voting.
(c) Each member of the National Committee shall be entitled to one vote on each issue before it, except that Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa shall each be entitled to a total of only one vote. This vote shall be shared among the Chairperson, the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex, the National Committeeman and the National Committeewoman who are present and voting. Democrats Abroad shall have two votes on the Democratic National Committee, which votes shall be shared by the Chairperson, the highest ranking officer of the opposite sex, three National Committeemen and three National Committeewoman.
(d) Voting to fill a vacancy on the National ticket shall be in accord with procedural rules adopted by the Rules and Bylaws Committee and approved by the Democratic National Committee.
(e) Proxy voting shall be permitted. Proxies may be either general or limited and either instructed or uninstructed. All proxies shall be in writing and transferable if so specified. No DNC member may at any one time hold or exercise proxies for more than one other DNC member; provided, however, that proxy voting shall not be permitted in voting to fill a vacancy on the National ticket.
(f) The Chan-person of the National Committee may refer matters to the members of the National Committee for consideration and vote by mail, provided, however, that if members aggregating more than twenty percent (20%) of the full membership shall. so request, the matter shall be presented to the next meeting of the National Committee.
Section 9. Regional Caucuses. There shall be four Regional Caucuses of the members of a Democratic National Committee, comprised as follows:
Eastern
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Democrats Abroad (1/2 vote)
Southern
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Democrats Abroad (1/2 vote)
Midwestern
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Democrats Abroad (1/2 vote)
Western
Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Democrats Abroad (1/2 vote)
Section 10. Committees.
(a) In addition to the Committees otherwise provided for in the Charter there shall be the following standing committees of the Democratic National Committee:
(i) Credentials Committee;
(ii) Resolutions Committee;
(iii) Rules and Bylaws Committee.
(b) (i) The Credentials Committee shall receive and consider all challenges to the credentials of Democratic National Committee members.
(ii) Any challenge to the credentials of a member of the Democratic National Committee may be made by any Democrat from the state or territory of the member challenged or any member of the Democratic National Committee and shall be filed by Registered Mail (return receipt requested) within thirty (30) days of the selection of such member.
(iii) The Credentials Committee shall determine the validity of the credentials of those elected to the National Committee, and decide all challenges to the seating of such members. The Credentials Committee shall provide each party to a dispute a reasonable opportunity to be heard, and may give an opportunity for submission of briefs and oral argument and shall render a written report on the issues to the National Committee.
(iv) The National Committee shall proceed to a determination of such contest or contests as its first order of business, if feasible, including the temporary seating of challenged members, in order that the members may participate in other business before the National Committee.
(c)(i) The Resolutions Committee shall receive and consider all resolutions proposed by a member of the Democratic National Committee on matters of policy proposed for adoption by the Democratic National Committee, and shall report in writing. Said report shall contain the text of each resolution recommended by the Committee for adoption, and shall identify resolutions considered but not recommended for adoption; and
(ii) Resolutions shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting of the National Committee, and copies of all such resolutions shall be sent to each member no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the National Committee meeting, provided that the Executive Committee may vote to submit urgent timely resolutions to the National Committee even though not submitted within these time periods.
(d)(i) The Rules and Bylaws Committee shall receive and consider all recommendations for adoption and amendments to the Rules and Bylaws of the National Committee and to the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States;
(ii) recommendations for amendment to the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States shall be received by the Rules and Bylaws Committee no less than sixty (60) days prior to a regular meeting of the Democratic National Committee, provided that the Executive Committee may approve direct submission of a recommended amendment to the Charter if the requirements of timeliness of the Charter are otherwise met;
(iii) recommendations for amendment to the Bylaws or adoption of Rules for the Democratic National Committee shall be submitted to the Rules Committee no less than thirty (30) days prior to a meeting of the National Committee, and the Secretary of the National Committee shall mail such proposed recommendations to the members no less than thirty (30) days prior to the National Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the member of the National Committee submitting a Bylaws Amendment to distribute a copy to all members of the Committee within the time required by these Bylaws for consideration, or submit the request to the Secretary with ample time to make such distribution;
(iv) The Executive Committee may refer to the Rules and Bylaws Committee for preliminary consideration the temporary Rules of the National Convention to be included in the Call to the Convention, and the Executive Committee may adopt the I recommendations of the Rules and Bylaws Committee as such temporary Convention rules;
(v) the Rules and Bylaws Committee shall conduct a continuing study of the Bylaws, Rules and Charter and make periodic recommendations for amendment, extension or other action, provided that any such recommendations by the Rules and Bylaws Committee be submitted to the members of the National Committee at the time the agenda is presented; and
(vi) the report of the Rules and Bylaws Committee shall be in writing and shall contain the full text of action recommended and shall identify recommendations not approved by the Committee for adoption.
(e) The National Committee may from time to time create such other standing or ad hoc committees as it shall deem appropriate.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in the Charter or in these Bylaws, the members of all committees of the National Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, in consultation with the Executive Committee, subject to ratification by the Democratic National Committee, and shall be appointed to serve for the tenure of the Chairperson.
(g) The provisions of Section 8(e) of this Article shall apply to committees of the National Committee.
(h) All matters referred to any council, special committee, standing committee, conference or any other sub-group must be acted upon and said action reported to the body which originated the reference.
Section 11. Participation in All Party Affairs.
(a) The Democratic Party of the United States shall be open to all who desire to support the Party and who wish to be known as Democrats. Participation in the affairs of the Democratic Party shall be open pursuant to the standards of non-discrimination and affirmative action incorporated into the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States.
(b)(i) The National, state, and local Democratic Party organizations shall undertake affirmative action programs designed to encourage the fullest participation of an Democrats in all Party Affairs. All Party Affairs shall mean all activities of each official Party organization commencing at the lowest level and continuing up through the National Democratic Party. Such activities shall include but need not be limited to the processes in which delegates are selected to the National Democratic Convention; Party officials are nominated or selected; Party policy, platforms, and rules are formulated; and regular programs of voter registration, public education and public relations. Such programs may be developed and sponsored in cooperation with the Democratic National Committee.
(ii) National and state Democratic Parties shall carry out programs to facilitate and increase the participation of low- and moderate-income persons. These programs shall include provisions and resources for outreach and recruitment to achieve representation and equitably minimize economic factors which act to bar full participation by such persons.
(iii) State and National Parties shall act affirmatively to develop and implement appropriate education, training, fundraising and outreach programs directed at low- and moderate-income Democrats and shall implement rules, and regulations of the Party in their most constructive interpretation to effect increased participation and representation by people of low and moderate income. Nondiscrimination as it relates to this Section 11(b) and as provided in Article Eight, Section 2 of the Charter shall be strictly enforced.
(c)(i) Each state or territorial Party shall require each unit of the Party which holds such meetings to publicize effectively and in a timely fashion the dates, times, and places of all such meetings, and the name or names of the person responsible for such meetings.
(ii) Notice of meetings shall be published as required in this Section prior to the meeting. Such notice may appear as legal notice, paid advertisement, news item, direct mail, radio or television announcement, or in such other form as may reasonably be designed to notify Democrats of the meeting provided no state, territorial, or county Party is required to purchase paid advertising; and
(iii) If challenged, a state or territorial Party shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section upon proof of effective notice from the reporting unit of the Party.
(d) If a county or any local unit of the state or territorial Party fails to comply with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the state or territorial Party may assume responsibility for setting dates, times and places for local meetings and for giving notice of the same as provided in this Section.
(e) Each state or territorial Party may establish such procedures and structures as are necessary to ensure compliance with this Section, including procedures for review of complaints of non-compliance with this Section by any unit of the political process, including the state.
(f) If a state or territorial Party is alleged to have failed to comply with this Section, the alleged non-compliance shall be referred to the Democratic National Committee for review provided that any person alleging non-compliance at any level shall be a resident of the affected jurisdiction and provided that any person alleging non-compliance of a state or territorial Party with this Section shall have exhausted all remedies provided by the state or territorial Party.
Section 12. Duties and Responsibilities of the Chairperson
(a) The Chairperson shall be the chief executive officer of the Democratic National Committee and shall exercise authority delegated to him or her by the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic National Committee's Executive Committee in carrying out the day-to-day activities of the Committee.
(b) By the time of the next DNC meeting following his or her election, the Chairperson shall designate a Vice Chair who will have authority to act as Chairperson should a vacancy occur or should the Chairperson become incapacitated. In the event of such succession, the designated Vice Chair will serve in the capacity of the Chairperson until a new Chairperson is elected at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the full Democratic National Committee.
Article Three
Executive Committee [Return to Top]
Section 1. Powers and Duties. The Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Democratic Party in the interim between the meetings of the full Committee. This responsibility shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Authority for the Democratic National Committee between meetings thereof;
(b) Recommending approval of the budget of the Democratic National Committee, electing the members of the National Education and Training Council, approving the budget and overseeing the operations of such Council; and
(c) Reporting all of its proceedings to the Democratic National Committee.
Section 2. Membership. The Executive Committee shall be composed of:
(a) The Chairpersons of the Regional Caucuses of the Democratic National Committee who must be members of the Democratic National Committee;
(b) Four members elected by each of the Regional Caucuses of the Democratic National Committee, who shall be equally divided between men and women and all of whom shall be members of the Democratic National Committee;
(c) The Chairperson, the five Vice Chairpersons, the Treasurer, and the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee;
(d) The National Finance Chair;
(e) The Chairperson of the Democratic Governors' Association or his or her designee from that Association, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(f) The Democratic Leader of the United States Senate or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic Leader from the United States House of Representatives or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(g) The Chairperson of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(h) The Chairperson of the Democratic State Legislative Leaders Association or his or her designee from that Association, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(i) The Chairperson of the National Democratic County Officials or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(j) The Chairperson of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(k) The President of the Young Democrats of America or his or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(1) Three additional members of the Association of State Democratic Chairs to be selected by the Association;
(m) The President of the National Federation of Democratic Women or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(n) The Chairs of the Hispanic and Black Caucuses of the Democratic National Committee;
(o) The Chair of the Women's Caucus of the Democratic National Committee or her designee, who must be a member of the Democratic National Committee;
(p) Ten members at-large, elected by the Democratic National Committee, who shall be equally divided between men and women, all of whom must be members of the Democratic National Committee.
(q) Any designee as provided for in this Section may not otherwise be a member of the Executive Committee and must be a member of the organization or constituency he or she is designated to represent.
Section 3. Election of Members.
(a) Elected members of the Executive Committee shall be elected:
(i) at the first meeting of the Democratic National Committee held after the National Convention;
(ii) at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee held after the succeeding presidential election and prior to March 1 next, and
(iii) whenever a vacancy occurs.
(b) Members of the Executive Committee shall serve until the election of their successors. Upon the resignation of a member, a successor shall be selected by the original official authority to serve the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 4. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times each year. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson or by written request of no fewer than one-fourth of its members. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings which shall be available to the public.
Section 5. Quorum and Voting. The provisions of Section 8 of Article Two of these Bylaws shall apply to the Executive Committee.
Article Four
National Finance Organizations [Return to Top]
Section 1. Duties and Powers. The National Finance Organizations of the Democratic Party shall have general responsibility for the finances of the Democratic Party for raising funds to support the Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee to advise and assist state Democratic Parties and candidates in securing funds for their purposes. The National Finance Chair and the Treasurer will advise the National Chairperson of the Democratic Party and the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee with respect to the finances of the Democratic Party.
Article Five
Amendments [Return to Top]
Bylaws may be adopted or amended by majority vote of:
(a) the National Convention; or
(b) the Democratic National Committee provided that thirty (30) days written notice of any proposed Bylaw or amendment has been given to all members of the National Committee. Unless adopted in the form of an amendment to the otherwise designated, any resolution adopted by the National Convention relating to the governance of the Party shall be considered a Bylaw.
Quick Link Word Index
Republican National Committee
Address goes here
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Republican Party is the party of the open door. Ours is the party of equality of opportunity for all and favoritism for none.
It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open, accessible to all, and answerable ultimately to the people in the true American tradition.
It is the further purpose of these rules to ensure that the Republican Party stands for the principle that, as we are the party open to all, we are also the party of opportunity for all: opportunity for everyone of every race, religion, color, national origin, age, and sex.
These rules provide for full participation with equal opportunity for men and women, for minorities and heritage groups, and for all Americans regardless of age or social or economic status.
These rules mandate that the Republican Party shall be a nationwide party, purposeful and strong in all sections of the country, North, South, East, and West.
These rules maintain the Republican Party as an instrument for the political realization of that concept of individual liberty on which our constitutional government is founded.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the following be and they hereby are adopted as The Rules of the Republican Party, comprised of the rules of business of this national convention, the rules for the election and government of the Republican National Committee until the next national convention, the rules under which delegates and alternate delegates shall be allotted to the respective states in the next national convention, and the rules under which such delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected and under which contests shall be considered.
Rule No. 1
Order of Business [Return to Top]
The convention shall proceed in the order of business prepared and printed by the Republican National Committee.
Rule No. 2
Committee Reports [Return to Top]
The report of the Committee on Credentials shall be disposed of before the report of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business is acted upon, the report of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business shall be disposed of before the report of the Committee on Resolutions is acted upon, and the report of the Committee on Resolutions shall be disposed of before the convention proceeds to the nomination of candidates for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States.
Rule No. 3
Definition of "States" [Return to Top]
Whenever used in these rules, "state" or "states" shall be taken to include American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, except in Rule No. 31 and unless the context in which the word "state" or "states" is used clearly makes such inclusion inappropriate.
Rule No. 4
Admission to Convention Hall [Return to Top]
(a) No person except members of the several delegations, officers of the convention, members of the Republican National Committee and, beginning at the 1992 Republican National Convention, incumbent Republican governors, incumbent Republican United States Senators, and incumbent Republican members of the United States House of Representatives, shall be admitted to the section of the convention hall restricted to delegates.
(b) Press and staff shall be admitted to the section(s) of the hall authorized for them.
(c) The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall insure that guest passes to the convention are distributed in an equitable fashion. Each delegate and alternate delegate to the convention shall receive at least one guest pass to each session of the convention.
Rule No. 5
Voting [Return to Top]
(a) Each delegate to the convention shall be entitled to one (1) vote, which may be cast by an alternate delegate in the absence of the delegate.
(b) In the absence of any delegate at large or any delegate from any Congressional district, the roll of alternate delegates for the state or district shall be called in the order in which the names are placed upon the roll of the convention, unless the law governing the state or district electing the absent delegate, the state or district convention, or the Republican state committee or governing committee shall otherwise provide, or the delegation shall otherwise direct at the time of certification, in which event the alternative delegates from the state or district shall vote in the order established pursuant to the foregoing, as set forth in the delegation's certification. The form of certificate provided by the Republican National Committee shall provide a means by which an order for voting by alternate delegates may therein be specified.
Rule No. 6
Rules of Order [Return to Top]
The Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States shall be the rules of the convention, except that the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, ("Robert's Rules of Order") shall be the rules for committees and subcommittees of the convention, insofar as they are applicable and not inconsistent with the rules herein set forth; provided, however, that the convention may adopt its own rules concerning the reading of committee reports and resolutions.
Rule No. 7
Length of Debate [Return to Top]
No delegate shall speak more than once or longer than five (5) minutes upon the same question, unless by leave of the convention, except in the presentation of the name of a candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States.
Rule No. 8
Suspension of Rules [Return to Top]
A motion to suspend the rules shall always be in order but only when made by authority of a majority of the delegates from any state and seconded by a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more other states, severally.
Rule No. 9
Platform Resolutions [Return to Top]
All proposed resolutions relating to the platform shall be submitted in writing to the Committee on Resolutions without reading and without debate.
Rule No. 10
Minority Reports; Amendments [Return to Top]
No resolution or amendment pertaining to the report of the Committee on Resolutions or the Committee on Rules and Order of Business shall be reported out or made a part of any report of such committee or otherwise read or debated before the convention, unless the same shall have been submitted to the chairman, vice chairman, or secretary of such committee or to the secretary of the convention in writing not later than one hour after the time at which such committee votes on its report to the convention and shall have been accompanied by a petition evidencing the affirmative written support of a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of such committee.
Rule No. 11
Motion to Table [Return to Top]
It shall be in order to lay on the table a proposed amendment to a pending measure and such motion, if adopted, shall not carry with it or prejudice such original measure.
Rule No. 12
Previous Question [Return to Top]
When the previous question shall be demanded by a majority of the delegates from any state, and the demand is likewise seconded by a majority of delegates from each of two (2) or more other states, severally, and the call is sustained by a majority of the delegates to the convention, the question shall then be proceeded with and disposed of according to the Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States in similar cases.
Rule No. 13
Roll Call [Return to Top]
(a) Upon all subjects before the convention requiring a roll call, the states shall be called in alphabetical order.
(b) In the balloting, the vote of each state shall be announced by the chairman of such state's delegation; and in case the vote of any state shall be divided, the chairman shall announce the number of votes for each candidate, or for or against any proposition; but if exception is taken by any delegate from that state to the correctness of such announcement by the chairman of that delegation, the chairman of the convention shall direct the roll of members of such delegation to be called, and the result shall be recorded in accordance with the vote of the several delegates in such delegation.
(c) In balloting, if any delegation shall pass when its name is called, then at the conclusion of the roll call all delegations which passed shall be called in the order herein before established and no delegation shall be allowed to change its vote until all delegations which passed shall have been given a second opportunity to vote.
(d) Except in a roll call for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, or where the majority of delegates of fifteen (15) or more states severally have requested that a roll call be conducted by voice call of the roll, the chairman of the convention may order that the balloting on any subject placed before the convention requiring a roll call be conducted by electronic, telephonic or computer device which will display votes to the convention simultaneously. Each delegation chairman shall record and tally any such votes of the delegation on official roll call tally sheets provided by the secretary of the convention, showing the individual vote of the delegates, and file such tally sheets with the secretary of the convention not more than thirty (30) minutes after the completion of the roll call vote.
Rule No. 14
Unit Rule [Return to Top]
No delegate or alternate delegate shall be bound by any attempt of any state or Congressional district to impose the unit rule.
Rule No. 15
Record Vote [Return to Top]
If a majority of the delegates of any six (6) states severally shall demand a roll call vote, the same shall be taken of the states in the order hereinbefore established.
Rule No. 16
Nominations [Return to Top]
(a) In making the nominations for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States and voting thereon, the roll of the states shall be called, separately in each case; provided, however, that if there is only one candidate for nomination for Vice President of the United States who has demonstrated the support required by paragraph (b) of this rule, a motion to nominate for such office by acclamation shall be in order and no calling of the roll with respect to such office shall be required.
(b) Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination.
(c) The total time of the nominating speech and seconding speeches for any candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes.
(d) When it appears at the close of a roll call that any candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States has received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention, the chairman of the convention shall declare that the candidate has been nominated.
(e) If no candidate shall have received such majority, the chairman of the convention shall direct the roll of the states be called again and shall repeat the calling of the roll until a candidate shall have received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention.
Rule No. 17
Convention Committees [Return to Top]
(a) The delegates elected to the convention from each state, immediately after they are elected, shall elect from the delegation their members of the Committees on Resolutions, Credentials, Rules and Order of Business, and Permanent Organization of the convention, consisting of one (1) man and one (1) woman for each committee, and shall file notice of such selection with the secretary of the Republican National Committee; provided, however, that no delegate may serve on more than one (1) committee of the convention; except that the delegates from each of American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands shall select as hereinabove provided one (1) member of each such committee. Alternate delegates may not serve as members of the convention committees.
(b) Committees and subcommittees may set time limits for speaking on any question by a simple majority vote; provided, however, that not less than twenty (20) minutes, equally divided between proponents and opponents on any question, shall be allowed in any case on any debatable motion, order, or appeal.
(c) Upon request of one-fifth (1/5) of the members of a committee or subcommittee of convention, a vote shall be recorded in the manner provided by these rules, and no votes in the committees or subcommittees of the convention shall be taken by secret ballot.
Rule No. 18
Temporary Rules [Return to Top]
Rules No. 1 through No. 17 shall be the temporary rules of the next national convention and its committees and subcommittees.
Rule No. 19
Organization of the Republican National Committee [Return to Top]
The Republican National Committee shall have the general management of the Republican Party, subject to direction from the national convention. The members of the Republican National Committee shall consist of one (1) national committeeman and one (1) national committeewoman from, and the chairman of the state Republican Party of, each state.
Rule No. 20
Method of Election [Return to Top]
(a) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, they shall be elected pursuant to such method.
(b) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party do not provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, and where state laws do provide such a method of election, they shall be elected pursuant to such method provided by state laws.
(c) Where neither the rules adopted by a state Republican Party nor state laws provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, the national convention delegation from such state shall elect them.
(d) At each convention, the roll shall be called and the delegation from each state shall report through its chairman the names of the elected national committee members whose election shall be ratified by the convention if otherwise in accordance with these rules.
Rule No. 21
Term of Office [Return to Top]
(a) National committeemen and national committeewomen shall serve from the adjournment of the national convention until the adjournment of the following national convention, and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
(b) The duly elected and acting chairman of each state Republican Party shall be a member of the Republican National Committee during his or her tenure in office.
Rule No. 22
Vacancies [Return to Top]
(a) Election of members to fill vacancies in the Republican National Committee shall be ratified by the Republican National Committee upon their election by the state Republican Party in and for the state in which the vacancy occurs.
(b) The Republican National Committee shall have the power to declare vacant the seat of any member who refuses to support the Republican nominee for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States.
(c) In the event of the death, resignation, disqualification, or disability of any officer or committee member of the Republican National Committee, as enumerated in Rule No. 23 and Rule No. 29, such vacancy shall be filled by the same body and in the same manner as provided therein for the election of such officer or officers or committee members in the first instance.
Rule No. 23
Officers of the Republican National Committee [Return to Top]
(a) The officers of the Republican National Committee shall consist of:
(1) A chairman and a co-chairman of the opposite sex who shall be elected by the members of the Republican National Committee. Except as otherwise ordered by a majority of the members of the Republican National Committee present and voting on the matter, the chairman and the co-chairman shall be full-time, paid employees of the Republican National Committee. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Republican National Committee. The chairman or co-chairman may be removed from office only by a two-thirds (1) vote of the entire Republican National Committee.
(2) Eight (8) vice chairmen, comprising one (1) man and one (1) woman from each of the following four (4) regions:
The Western States Association: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming;
The Midwestern States Association: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin;
The Northeastern States Association: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Virgin Islands; and
The Southern States Association: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
(3) A secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as the Republican National Committee shall deem necessary, all to be elected by the Republican National Committee.
(b) The chairman, co-chairman, and all other officers shall be elected in January of each odd-numbered year. All officers except the vice chairman shall be nominated from the floor, and candidates must have at least two (2) votes in three (3) states in order to have their names put in nomination. There shall be no nominating committee.
(c) The eight (8) vice chairmen shall be elected at regional caucuses by the Republican National Committee members of the four (4) regions and shall be residents of and Republican National Committee members from their respective regions. The election shall take place in January of each odd-numbered year commencing in January 1997. The election of vice chairmen shall not require confirmation by the Republican National Committee.
(d) The chairman shall appoint a general counsel for the Republican National Committee and a chairman of the Republican Finance Committee, both of whom shall be confirmed by the Republican National Committee.
Rule No. 24
Chairman's Executive Council, Executive Committee [Return to Top]
(a) There shall be a Chairman's Executive Council of the Republican National Committee to consist of eleven (11) members of the Republican National Committee, three (3) to be appointed by the chairman and eight (8) additional members to consist of one (1) man and one (1) woman elected by and from each of the four (4) regional caucuses. In addition, the following shall serve as ex-officio members of the Chairman's Executive Council: the chairman, the co-chairman, the general counsel, the chairman of the Republican Finance Committee, the chairman of the Republican State Chairmen's Advisory Committee, the chairman of the Budget Committee, and the president of the National Federation of Republican Women.
(b) The Chairman's Executive Council may exercise all the executive and administrative functions required of the Republican National Committee, with the exception of the following:
(1) election of officers of the Republican National Committee;
(2) ratification of the election of members of the Republican National Committee;
(3) issuance of the call and designation of the time and place for holding the national convention; and
(4) filling a vacancy in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States, or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States.
(c) The Chairman's Executive Council shall meet on the call of the chairman and such meetings shall be held at least twice in each year. In addition, upon written petition of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the Chairman's Executive Council, the chairman, within ten (10) days of his receipt of said petition, shall call a meeting of the Chairman's Executive Council to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman. The date of such meeting shall fall between ten (10) and twenty (20) days from the date of the call. The minutes of all Chairman's Executive Council meetings shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to all members of the Republican National Committee.
(d) There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall be composed of the members of the Chairman's Executive Council, the president of the National Federation of Republican Women, the chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, the chairman of the College Republican National Committee, the chairman of the National Republican Heritage Groups Council, the chairman of the National Black Republican Council, the chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, the president of the National Federation of the Grand Order of Pachyderm Clubs, the president of the National Conference of Republican Mayors, the Republican leader of the United States Senate, the Republican leader of the United States House of Representatives, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, the president of the National Conference of Republican County Officials, the president of the National Republican Legislators Association, the president of the National Association of Urban Republican County Chairmen, the chairman of the Republican Labor Council, the chairman of Republicans Abroad, and a representative of Jewish-Americans appointed by the Chairman of the Republican National Committee Additional groups and organizations may be granted representation on or removed from the Executive Committee by the Republican National Committee, subject to ratification by the next Republican national convention. Groups and organizations represented on the Executive Committee may be referred to as "Auxiliaries of the Republican National Committee." The Executive Committee shall consult with and offer advice to the chairman of the Republican National Committee with respect to the executive and administrative functions of the Republican National Committee.
(e) The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the chairman of the Republican National Committee. In addition, upon written petition of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the Executive Committee, the chairman, within ten (10) days of receipt of said petition, shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman. The date of such meeting shall fall between ten (10) and twenty (20) days from the date of the call.
(f) There shall be a Republican Labor Council which shall be composed of working men and women, all supportive of the Republican Presidential nominee, balanced between union and non-union members, appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee with the approval of the Republican National Committee. This Council shall elect its chairman from among its members.
Rule No. 25
Rules of Order [Return to Top]
(a) Robert's Rules of Order shall govern in all meetings of the Republican National Committee and its committees insofar as they are applicable and not inconsistent with these rules.
(b) All meetings of the Republican National Committee and all of its committees shall be open meetings, except as provided for by Robert's Rules of Order.
(c) A member of the Republican National Committee may give a written and witnessed proxy to a legal and qualified voter of the same state, which shall be effective for one meeting and which shall be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee.
(d) No votes (except elections to office when properly ordered pursuant to the provisions of Robert's Rules of Order) shall be taken by secret ballot in any open meeting of the Republican National Committee or of any committee thereof.
Rule No. 26
Meetings of the Republican National Committee [Return to Top]
(a) The Republican National Committee shall meet at least twice in each year. A tentative agenda for each meeting shall be mailed to the members at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting. The minutes, including all resolutions and motions, shall be mailed to all members of the Republican National Committee within thirty (30) days after the close of the meeting.
(b) The first meeting of the Republican National Committee shall take place within five 5) days after the adjournment of the national convention. Such meeting and all other meetings of the Republican National Committee shall take place upon call of the chairman or, in case of a vacancy in the chairmanship, upon call of the co-chairman or, in case of a vacancy in the chairmanship and the co-chairmanship, upon call of the vice chairman senior in time of service as a member of the Republican National Committee; provided, however, that such call shall be issued at least ten (10) days in advance of the date of the proposed meeting, except that if one of the purposes of a meeting of the Republican National Committee is to fill a vacancy in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, then only five (5) days' notice of the purpose, date, and place of said meeting shall be required. Upon written petition of sixteen (16) or more members of the Republican National Committee, representing no fewer than sixteen (16) states, filed jointly or severally with the chairman, requesting a meeting of the Republican National Committee, it shall be the duty of the chairman, within ten (10) days from receipt of said petition, to issue a call for a meeting of the Republican National Committee, to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman, the date of such called meeting to be not later than twenty (20) days or earlier than ten (10) days from the date of the call.
Rule No. 27
Filling Vacancies in Nominations [Return to Top]
(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.
(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast in the national convention.
(c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes, among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy.
(d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election.
Rule No. 28
Committees of the Republican National Committee [Return to Top]
(a) There shall be the following committees:
(1) There shall be a Standing Committee on Rules of the Republican National Committee composed of one (1) member of the Republican National Committee from each state, to review and propose recommendations with respect to The Rules of the Republican Party. The members of the Republican National Committee from each state shall caucus and by majority vote choose from their number within eight (8) months following the national convention appointees to serve on this committee. If the members of the Republican National Committee from any state do not within this period submit to the chairman of the Republican National Committee their choice to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules, the chairman of the Republican National Committee shall select, from among the members of the Republican National Committee from each such state, one (1) member to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules. The chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules shall be elected by the committee from among its members.
(2) There shall be a Committee on Arrangements to plan for and manage the next national convention. The chairman and the co-chairman of the Republican National Committee shall be members of the Committee on Arrangements and the chairman of the Republican National Committee shall appoint to the Committee on Arrangements at least one (1) member of the Republican National Committee from each state. The chairmen of the Committee on Arrangements and of its subcommittees shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members of the Committee on Arrangements and, together with such other officers as shall be elected by the Committee on Arrangements, shall be members of the executive committee of the Committee on Arrangements. The chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules and the chairman of the Committee on Contests shall also be members of the Committee on Arrangements.
(3) There shall be a Committee on the Call, composed of a chairman and at least seven (7) members of the Republican National Committee who shall be appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall assist the Republican National Committee in connection with issuance of the call for the next national convention pursuant to Rule No. 30. This committee shall be appointed after the selection of the Committees on Rules and Arrangements.
(4) There shall be a Committee on Contests, which shall be composed of two (2) members of the Republican National Committee from each of the four (4) regions described in Rule No. 23, elected by members of the Republican National Committee from each such region, and a chairman appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members- or officers of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall perform the duties relating to the resolution of contests prescribed in Rule No. 39. This committee shall be elected after the selection of the Committees on Rules and Arrangements.
(5) There shall be a Committee on the Site of the Republican National Convention, which shall be composed of two (2) members of the Republican National Committee from each of the four (4) regions described in Rule No. 23, elected by the members of the Republican National Committee from each such region, and a chairman appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members or officers of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall be responsible for investigating potential sites for the next national convention, and for recommending a site to the Republican National Committee for selection. This committee shall be selected no later than two (2) years following the Presidential election.
(6) Each member of the Republican National Committee shall be a member of at least one (1) of the above-mentioned committees. The general counsel of the Republican National Committee shall be counsel to each of such committees. The minutes of these committees shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to all members of the Republican National Committee. Any of these committees may meet and act by telephone Conference upon twenty-four (24) hours' notice.
(b) The chairman of the Republican National Committee, with the approval of the Republican National Committee, may appoint such other committees and assistants as he or she may deem necessary, and whenever such committees are appointed, they shall consist of a chairman and an equal number of men and woman.
Rule No. 29
Finance and Budget [Return to Top]
(a) The Republican National Committee shall create a Republican Finance Committee and any subcommittees thereof which it deems desirable, to which it may delegate the responsibility of developing and implementing a broad-based fundraising plan. The chairman of the Republican Finance Committee shall be appointed pursuant to-the provisions of Rule No. 23(d).
(b) The Republican National Committee shall create a Budget Committee and any subcommittees thereof which it deems desirable, to which it may delegate the responsibility of developing a budget and reviewing income and expenditures of the Republican National Committee. The Budget Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members of the Republican National Committee, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee and one (1) of whom shall be elected by each of the four (4) regional caucuses in January of each odd-numbered year. In addition, the following shall serve as ex-officio members of the Budget Committee: the chairman, co-chairman, and treasurer of the Republican National Committee, and the chairman of the Republican Finance Committee. The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall make every effort in his appointments to ensure that an equal number of men and women serve on the Budget Committee. The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall appoint the chairman of the Budget Committee from among the members thereof.
(c) The annual budget shall be approved at the first meeting of the Republican National Committee held in each year. The proposed budget, in reasonable detail, shall be mailed to all members of the Republican National Committee at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting.
(d) The Republican National Committee shall not, without prior written and filed approval of all members of the Republican National Committee from the state involved, contribute money or in-kind aid to any candidate for public or party office except the nominee of the Republican Party or a candidate who is unopposed in the Republican primary after the filing deadline for that office.
Rule No. 30
Call of Next Convention [Return to Top]
The Republican National Committee shall issue the call for the next national convention to nominate candidates for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States prior to January 1 of the year in which the national convention is to be held. The Republican National Committee shall issue and promulgate the call in a manner consistent with these rules, which call shall include the text of the rules relating to the convening and the proceedings of the national convention.
Rule No. 31
Membership in Convention [Return to Top]
The membership of the next national convention shall consist of:
(a) Delegates.
(1) Six (6) delegates at large from each of the fifty (50) states.
(2) Three (3) district delegates for each Representative in the United States House of Representatives from each state.
(3) Four (4) delegates at large from American Samoa, fourteen (14) delegates at large from the District of Columbia, four (4) delegates at large from Guam, fourteen (14) delegates at large from Puerto Rico, and four (4) delegates at large from the Virgin Islands; provided, however, that if Puerto Rico shall become a state prior to the next national convention, the number of delegates from Puerto Rico shall be calculated in accordance with the same formula used for the other states.
(4) From each state having cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the last preceding election: four and one-half (4 1/2) delegates at large plus a number of the delegates at large equal to sixty percent (60%) of the number of electoral votes of that state; provided, however, that if Puerto Rico shall become a state prior to the next national convention, it shall be presumed that it would have cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee in the last preceding election. (In the computation of the number of delegates at large, any sum of the four and one-half (4 1/2) plus the sixty percent (60%) representing a fraction shall be increased to the next whole number.) In addition, one (1) delegate at large shall be awarded to a state for any and each of the following public officials elected by such state in the year of the last preceding Presidential election or at any subsequent election held prior to January 1 of the year in which the next national convention is held:
(i) Each Republican United States Senator; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed two (2);
(ii) A Republican governor; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1);
(iii) Membership in the Republican Party of at least one-half (1/2) of the Representatives representing a state in the United States House of Representatives; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1); and
(iv) Membership in the Republican Party of a majority of the members of any chamber of a state legislature, if such chamber has been organized, and is presided over (if the presiding officer is elected by the chamber), by Republicans; or, if the membership in the Republican Party of the members of any chamber of a state legislature increases by twenty-five percent (25%) or more, so long as twenty-five percent (25%) equals at least two (2) legislators; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1).
(5) In addition from the District of Columbia, if the District of Columbia shall have cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the last preceding Presidential election: four and one-half (4 1/2) delegates at large plus the number of delegates at large equal to thirty percent (30%) of the fourteen (14) delegates at large allotted to the District of Columbia. (In the computation of the number of delegates at large, any sum of the four and one-half (4 1/2) plus the thirty percent (30%) representing a fraction shall be increased to the next whole number.)
(6) Any state which would receive fewer delegates under all provisions of this rule than it received to the 1972 Republican National Convention shall have its number of delegates increased to the same number of delegates it received to the 1972 Republican National Convention.
(b) Alternate Delegates.
One (1) alternate delegate for each delegate to the national convention.
Rule No. 32
Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates [Return to Top]
(a) Order of Precedence.
Delegates at large and their alternate delegates and delegates from Congressional districts and their alternate delegates to the national convention shall be elected in the following manner:
(1) In accordance with any applicable laws of a state, insofar as the same are not inconsistent with these rules; or
(2) To the extent not provided for in the applicable laws of a state, in accordance with any applicable Republican Party rules of a state, insofar as the same are not inconsistent with these rules; or
(3) By a combination of the methods set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this rule; or
(4) To the extent not provided by state law or party rules, as set forth in paragraph (c) of this rule.
(b) General.
In all elections of delegates or alternate delegates to the national convention, the following rules shall apply:
(1) In any jurisdiction in which Republican representation upon the board of judges or inspectors of elections for primary elections is denied by law, delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected as provided in paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(4) of this rule.
(2) In selecting delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention, no state law shall be observed which hinders, abridges, or denies to any citizen of the United States, eligible under the Constitution of the United States to hold the office of President of the United States or Vice President of the United States, the right or privilege of being a candidate under such state law for the nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States or which authorizes the election of a number of delegates or alternate delegates from any state to the national convention different from that fixed in these rules.
(3) Alternate delegates shall be elected to the national convention for each unit of representation equal in number to the number of delegates elected therein and shall be chosen in the same manner and at the same time as the delegates, and under the same rules; provided, however, that if the law of any state shall prescribe another method of choosing alternate delegates they may be chosen in accordance with the provisions of the law of the state in which the election occurs.
(4) Delegates and alternate delegates at large to the national convention when serving as delegates and alternate delegates shall be residents of and duly qualified voters in their respective states. All delegates and alternate delegates allocated as delegates and alternate delegates at large shall be elected at large in the several states; provided, however, that such allocation and method of election may be varied in any state to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to avoid conflict with state law applicable to the selection of national convention delegates if such varying allocation and method of election were those pursuant to which delegates at large and alternate delegates at large were elected to the 1988 Republican National Convention from that state.
(5) Delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention representing Congressional districts shall be residents of and qualified voters in said districts respectively when elected and when serving as delegates and alternate delegates. There shall be three (3) delegates and three (3) alternate delegates allocated to represent each Congressional district of the several states, who shall be elected by each such Congressional district; provided, however, that such number of delegates and alternate delegates allocated to represent, and elected by, any Congressional district of a state may be reduced or increased to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to avoid conflict with state law applicable to the selection of national convention delegates if such varying allocation was that pursuant to which district delegates and alternate district delegates were elected to the 1988 Republican National Convention from the state.
(6) No delegate or alternate delegate to the national convention shall be required to pay an assessment or fee in excess of that provided by the law of the state in which his or her election occurs as a condition of serving as a delegate or alternate delegate to the national convention.
(7) There shall be no automatic delegates to the national convention who serve by virtue of party position or elective office.
(8) Delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention may be elected only in one of the following manners:
(i) by primary election;
(ii) by the Republican state committee, where specifically provided by state law;
(iii) by state and Congressional district conventions;
(iv) by any method consistent with these rules by which delegates and alternate delegates were selected to the 1984 Republican National Convention in that state.
(9) No state law shall be observed which permits any person to participate in a primary delegate and alternate delegate selection process that also permits that person at the same primary to participate in the choosing of nominees of any other party for other elective office. Delegates and alternate delegates shall in that event be elected by Congressional district or state conventions pursuant to paragraph (c) of this rule.
(10) No delegates or alternate delegates shall be selected pursuant to any Republican Party rule of a state or state law which materially changes the method of selecting delegates or alternate delegates and was adopted or made effective more than seven days after the issue of the call for the next national convention in the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held. Where it is not possible to select delegates or alternate delegates in the manner in effect in that state before the date seven days after the issue of the call for the next national convention, delegates or alternate delegates shall be selected in the same manner as was used for the immediately next preceding national convention or, if it is not possible to select delegates or alternate delegates in the same manner as was used for the immediately next preceding national convention, then delegates or alternate, delegates shall be selected by Congressional district or state conventions pursuant to paragraph (c) of this rule.
(11) Except with respect to delegates and alternate delegates elected under paragraph (b)(8)(ii) of this rule and if consistent with paragraph (c)(5) of this rule, the selection process for choosing those who will select delegates or alternate delegates shall not begin before September 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held.
(12) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 32(a), a state party may select its delegates and alternate delegates by rules inconsistent with Rule 32(a)(1), provided that those state party rules are not otherwise inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican Party, and provided that the Republican National Committee, after determining that the state law being waived hereunder is adverse to the best interests of the Republican Party in that state, has granted that state party a waiver of Rule 32(a)(1) of these rules.
(c) Conventions.
Wherever state law permits or the Republican Party rules of a state require the election of delegates and alternate delegates by convention or there is no applicable state law or Republican Party rule, delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention shall be elected by Congressional district or state conventions pursuant to the following rules:
(1) Congressional district or state conventions shall be called by the Republican state committee.
(2) Delegates to Congressional district conventions may be elected in precinct caucuses, mass meetings, mass conventions, or county conventions in which only eligible voters in such precinct, county, or district as the case may be shall vote.
(3) Notices of the call for any such caucus, meeting, or convention shall be published in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the county district, or state as the case may be, not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of such caucus, meeting, or convention.
(4) Only legal and qualified voters who are deemed to be Republicans pursuant to state law or by party rules of a state shall participate in any Republican caucus, mass meeting, or mass convention held for the purpose of selecting delegates to county, district, or state conventions and only such legal and qualified voters shall be elected as delegates to county, district, and state conventions; provided, however, that in addition to the qualifications provided herein, the governing Republican committee of each state shall have the authority to prescribe additional qualifications not inconsistent with law. Such additional qualifications shall be adopted and published in at least one (1) daily newspaper having a general circulation throughout the state, such publication to be at least ninety (90) days before such qualifications become effective.
(5) No delegates shall be deemed eligible to participate in any Congressional district or state convention the purpose of which is to elect delegates to the national convention who are elected prior to the date of the issuance of the call of such national convention.
(6) Congressional district conventions shall be composed of delegates who are legal and qualified voters therein, and delegates to state conventions shall be qualified voters in the respective districts which they represent in said state conventions. Such delegates shall be apportioned by the state Republican Party among counties, parishes, and cities of the state or district having regard to the Republican vote or the population therein.
(7) There shall be no proxies at any district or state convention (which shall not include meetings of a Republican state committee) held for the purpose of selecting delegates to the national convention. If alternate delegates to such selection convention are selected, the alternate delegate and no other shall vote in the absence of the delegate.
(d) On or before September 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held, each Republican state committee shall adopt rules, procedures, policies, and instructive materials (prepared pursuant to Rule No. 34(a) governing the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention to convene during the following year, and shall certify and file with the secretary of the Republican National Committee true copies of the same and of all statutes governing the selection of such delegates and alternate delegates. Any subsequent amendments to or changes in such statutes, rules, procedures, policies, and materials shall be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee within twenty-one (21) days after the date of the amendment or change.
Rule No. 33
Election of Excess Delegates and Alternate Delegates [Return to Top]
(a) No state shall elect a greater number of persons to act as delegates and alternate delegates than the actual number of delegates and alternate delegates respectively to which it is entitled under the call for the national convention, and no unit of representation may elect any delegate or delegates, or their alternate delegates, with permission to cast a fractional vote.
(b) Where more than the authorized number of delegates from any state is certified and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee in the manner provided in Rule No. 35, a contest shall be deemed to exist and the secretary shall notify the several claimants so reported and shall submit all such credentials and claims to the whole Republican National Committee for decision as to which claimants reported shall be placed upon the temporary roll of the national convention.
Rule No. 34
Participation [Return to Top]
(a) The Republican National Committee shall assist the states in their efforts to inform all citizens as to how they may participate in delegate-selection procedures. The states, in cooperation with the Republican National Committee, shall prepare instructive material on delegate-selection methods and make it available for distribution.
(b) Participation in a Republican primary, caucus, or any meeting or convention held for the purpose of selecting delegates and alternate delegates to a county, district, state, or national convention shall in no way be abridged for reasons of sex, race, religion, color, age, or national origin. The Republican National Committee and the Republican state committee or governing committee of each state shall take positive action to achieve the broadest possible participation by men and women, young people, minority and heritage groups, senior citizens, and all other citizens in the delegate-selection process.
(c) Unless otherwise provided by the laws of the state in which the election occurs, in those states where delegates and alternate delegates are elected through the convention system or a combination of convention and primary systems, the precinct, ward, township, or county meetings shall be open meetings, and all citizens who are qualified shall be urged to participate.
(d) Each state shall endeavor to have equal representation of men and women in its delegation to the Republican National Convention.
(e) The provisions of these rules are not intended to be the basis of any kind of quota system.
Rule No. 35
Certification of Election [Return to Top]
(a) All delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected not later than thirty-five (35) days before the date of the meeting of the national convention, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the state in which the election occurs.
(b) Election of delegates and alternate delegates shall be certified:
(1) in every case where they are elected by convention, by the chairman and secretary of such convention or by the chairman and secretary of the Republican state committee, and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee;
(2) in every case where they are elected by primary, by the canvassing board or officer created or designated by the law of the state in which the election occurs, to canvass the returns and issue certificates of election to delegates or alternate delegates to national conventions of political parties, and all certificates shall be forwarded by said duly elected delegates and alternate delegates in the manner herein provided; and
(3) in every case where they are elected by the Republican state committee, by the chairman and secretary of the Republican state committee, and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee.
(c) No later than thirty (30) days before the time set for the meeting of the national convention, the credentials of each delegate and alternate delegate shall be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee for use by the secretary in making up the temporary roll of the national convention, except in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with the laws of the state in which the election occurs rendering impossible the filing of credentials within the time above specified.
Rule No. 36
Contests: Resolution by States [Return to Top]
All contests arising in any state electing district delegates by district conventions shall be decided by its state convention, or if the state convention shall not meet prior to the national convention, then by its state committee; and only contests affecting delegates elected at large shall be presented to the Republican National Committee; provided, however, if the contest regarding a district delegate arises out of the irregular or unlawful action of the state committee or state convention, the Republican National Committee may take jurisdiction thereof and hear and determine the same under the procedures provided in Rules No. 38 and No. 39.
Rule No. 37
Temporary Roll [Return to Top]
(a) The names of the delegates and alternate delegates presenting certificates of election from the officials designated in Rule No. 35 shall be placed upon the temporary roll of the national convention by the Republican National Committee.
(b) No person on the temporary roll of the national convention and whose right to be seated as a delegate or alternate delegate is being contested shall be entitled to vote in the national convention or in any committee thereof until by vote of the national convention the contest as to such person has been finally decided and such person has been permanently seated, except that any such person may be accorded the right to so vote, except in matters involving the credentials of that person, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Republican National Committee or the Committee on Credentials.
Rule No. 38
Contest Filing [Return to Top]
(a) Notices of contests shall state the grounds of the contest and shall be filed, no later than thirty (30) days before the time set for the meeting of the national convention, with the secretary of the Republican National Committee, except in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with applicable state law rendering impossible the filing of the notice of contest within the time above specified.
(b) Notices of contests may be filed only by a resident of the state whose delegation is challenged who was eligible to participate at any level in the delegate selection process of that state.
(c) Only contests that are timely filed under these rules shall be considered.
(d) For purposes of the rules relating to contests and credentials, the term "party" shall mean a person or persons who shall have filed a notice of contest pursuant to this Rule No. 38, and the person or persons whose right to be seated as a delegate or alternate delegate is the subject of such notice of contest.
Rule No. 39
Contest Procedure [Return to Top]
(a) The Committee on Contests shall have the power to adopt procedural rules, not inconsistent with these rules, which shall govern the expeditious prosecution of contests before the Committee on Contests. When any deadline set out in this rule falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such deadline shall be extended to the following day.
(b) No later than twenty-two (22) days before the convening of the national convention (or, in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with applicable state law rendering impossible compliance with this requirement, within five (5) days after such election), each of the parties shall file with the secretary of the Republican National Committee at least three (3) printed or typewritten copies of the statement of position in support of the party's claim to sit as delegates or alternate delegates to the national convention together with such affidavits or other evidence as desired. The secretary of the Republican National Committee, upon receiving the statement of position of a party, shall furnish the opposing party a copy of said statement of position.
Each statement of position shall begin with a summary of not more than one thousand (1,000) words setting forth succinctly a synopsis of the statement of position and a specific statement of the points relied upon.
(c) The Committee on Contests shall promptly hear the matter, decide what issues are involved, either of law or fact, or both, decide upon its recommendation for resolution of such issues, and submit such issues and its recommendations for resolution to the Republican National Committee. The issues so submitted by the Committee on Contests shall be the sole issues passed upon and determined by the Republican National Committee unless the Republican National Committee shall, by a majority vote, extend or change the same.
If the Committee on Contests for any reason shall fail to state the issues either of law or fact, the Republican National Committee shall decide upon what issues the contest shall be tried, and the hearing shall be limited to such issues unless the Republican National Committee, by a majority vote, shall decide otherwise.
(d) The Committee on Contests shall make up a report of each contest filed, showing the grounds of contest, the statute and rule, if any, under which the contest is waged; and the contentions of each party thereto. The report shall conclude with a statement of the points of issue in the contest, both of fact and law, and a statement of the recommendation of the Committee on Contests as to resolution of such points of issue, and shall be signed by the chairman or his designee. When the Committee on Contests has prepared such report stating the issues of law and fact, a copy of the statement of such issues shall be submitted forthwith to a person in the convention city whom the parties must appoint at the time of filing the contest to receive such statement, and a copy shall be served forthwith by the chairman of the Committee on Contests upon the parties by the most expeditious method available, providing for written evidence of receipt including, but not limited to, overnight delivery service.
(e) The parties shall have eight (8) days to file written objections to the Committee on Contests' statement of the issues of fact or law, or both, unless the Republican National Committee is called to act upon the contest sooner, in which case such objections shall be made before the meeting of the whole committee. If the parties reside in American Samoa, Guam, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, they shall be entitled to ten (10) days to file written objections.
The objections shall contain any additional statement of issues of either law or fact, or both, claimed by the party submitting the same to be involved in and necessary to be decided in the contest.
(f) When the Republican National Committee is called to pass upon any contest that may arise, the members of the Committee on Credentials shall also be notified of the time and place of such meeting and shall have the right to attend all hearings of all contests but without the right to participate in the discussion or the vote.
Rule No. 40
Convention Committee on Credentials [Return to Top]
(a) When the national convention shall have assembled, the secretary of the Republican National Committee shall deliver to the Committee on Credentials all credentials and other papers forwarded under Rule No. 35(c).
(b) An appeal may be taken to the Committee on Credentials from any ruling of the Republican National Committee on any contest, by and only by a party to such contest in the proceedings conducted pursuant to Rules No. 38 and No. 39, provided, however, that notice of such appeal must be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee within twenty-four (24) hours after the decision, that such notice shall specify the grounds upon which the appeal is taken, and that only the grounds so specified shall be heard by the Committee on Credentials upon such appeal. No evidence other than that taken before the Republican National Committee shall be taken up by the Committee on Credentials unless it shall, by a majority vote of all of its members, so direct.
(c) No issue involving the status of one or more delegates or alternate delegates or any contest relating thereto may originate before the Committee on Credentials of the national convention. All contests must first be presented to the Committee on Contests of the Republican National Committee or to the whole Republican National Committee.