rules of the republican party overview

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

COUNSEL’S OFFICE 1

Overview of

The Rules of the Republican Party

RNC Counsel’s Office

Updated February 2nd, 2015



OVERVIEW

• Preamble

• The Republican National Committee

– Rules 1 – 12

• Convening of the Next National Convention

– Rules 13 – 25

• Proceedings of National Convention

– Rules 26 - 42



Rules 1 – 12

Organization and operation of the

Republican National Committee



Organization of the RNC Rule 1

The RNC “shall have the general management of the

Republican Party”

Membership

Shall consist of the following from each State Republican

Party:

1 – National Committeeman

1 – National Committeewoman

1 – State Chairman

“State” is defined in Rule 1(b) to include all states and

territories, unless defined otherwise.


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Election of RNC Members

RULE 2

Provides the method of election for RNC committeemen and

committeewomen.

- State Party Rules

- State Laws

- National Convention Delegation

RULE 3

NCM and NCW serve 4-year terms, beginning and ending at adjournment

of the national convention

State party chairmen serve during term of chairmanship

5


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Filling Vacancies of Members and Officers

RULE 4

When a vacancy occurs in a state’s RNC delegation, a state

party elects a new member pursuant to its rules. RNC

ratifies.

In most cases, when a vacancy of an officer or on committee

occurs, it is filled by the same method used when the

position was first filled.

Chairman appointees serve at pleasure of Chairman.

6



RNC Officers

RULE 5

Officers:

• Chairman (CEO)

• Co-Chairman (opposite sex)

• 8 Vice-Chairmen (1 man, 1woman per region)

• Secretary (must be RNC member or officer when elected)

• Treasurer (must be RNC member or officer when elected)

Chairman Appointees:

• General Counsel

• Chairman, Republican Finance Committee

Sets forth the 4 RNC regions.


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Administrative Rules

RULE 7

• Robert’s Rules of Order to be used in all RNC meetings and its

committees.

• Rules for voting by proxy

• No secret ballot votes (except elections)

RULE 8

RNC Meeting Schedule – at least 3 times per year; upon the call of the

Chairman; provisions for special meetings.

RULE 9

RNC has authority to fill a vacancy of the Republican candidate for

President or Vice President of the United States.

9



RNC Committees

RULE 6

• Executive Committee

RULE 10

• Rules

• Resolutions

• Budget

• Site Selection

• Committee on Arrangements

• Call

• Contests

• Finance

• Temporary Commission on Convention Planning

• Presidential Primary Debates



Executive Committee Rule 6(a)

Membership

3 – Appointed by RNC Chairman

8 – 2 Elected from each of 4 Regions

18 – Elected officers; Chairmen of State

Chairmen’s Advisory, Resolutions,

Budget and Rules Committees; General

Counsel; Finance Chairman

29 – Total Members



Executive Committee Rule 6(b)

Duties

Exercise all the executive and administrative functions…between RNC meetings…with the exception of…

1. Election of RNC officers

2. Ratification of RNC members

3. Call and designation of time and place of national convention

4. Fill vacancies for Republican candidates for President and Vice President



Standing Committee on Rules Rule 10(a)(1)

Membership

56 – 1 from each state delegation

The members of the RNC from each state shall caucus, and by majority vote, choose from their number a member to serve on this committee.

Duties

• To review and propose recommendations with respect to The Rules of the Republican Party

• Now has jurisdiction under Rule 12



Standing Committee on Resolutions Rule 10(a)(2)

Membership

1 – Chairman appointed by RNC Chairman

8 – 2 elected from each region

9 – Total Members

Duties

Consider all resolutions submitted by any member for adoption by the RNC…



Standing Budget Committee Rule 10(a)(3)

Membership


8 – Elected from Regional Caucuses

4 – Ex-Officio: RNC Chairman, Co- Chairman, Treasurer, and Chairman of Finance Committee


Duties:

Develops RNC Budget; Reviews income and expenditures



Site Selection Committee Rule 10(a)(4)

Membership

1 – Chairman appointed by RNC Chairman

8 – 2 voting members elected from each region

9 – Total Members

4 – 1 alternate member from each region

Duties

Investigate potential sites for the next national convention and recommend a site to the RNC for selection



Committee on Arrangements Rule 10(a)(5)

Membership

56(+) – At least 1 member from each state appointed by RNC Chairman

4 – RNC Chairman, Co-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary

2 – Chairmen of Rules and Contest Committees

62(+) – Total Members

Duties

To plan for and manage the next national convention



Committee on the Call Rule 10(a)(6)

Membership

1 – Chairman appointed by RNC

Chairman

7(+) – Appointed by RNC Chairman

8(+) – Total Members

Duties

Shall assist…with the issuance of the call for the

next national convention…



Standing Committee on Contests Rule 10(a)(7)

Membership

1 – Chairman appointed by RNC

Chairman

8 – 2 elected by each region

9 – Total Members

Duties

Relating to resolution of contests associated with

national convention delegates as prescribed in

Rule 24



State Chairmen’s Advisory Committee Rule 10(a)(8)

Membership

State chairmen of each state party. RNC Chairman appoints Committee chairman.

Duties

Provide forum for discussion among state chairmen of matters of concern for state parties….but the shall take no formal action.



Finance Committee Rule 10(a)(9)

Membership

No limitations or requirements.

Duties

RNC shall create a Republican Finance

Committee and any subcommittees…to which it

may delegate the responsibility of developing and

implementing a broad based fundraising plan.



Temporary Commission on Convention Planning Rule 10(g)

• Membership: RNC Chairman appoints up to 20

members, including the RNC Chairman and

General Counsel as ex officio members

• Duties: Review financing, security, calendar,

program and site selection of future

conventions. Present recommendations to the

RNC at 2014 Spring Meeting


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Standing Committee on Presidential Primary Debates Rule 10(h)

Membership


8 – 2 elected by each region


Duties

To sanction debates on behalf of the RNC based

on considerations of timing, frequency, format,

media outlet, and the best interests of the

Republican Party.

23


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Candidate Support

RULE 11

The RNC may not support a candidate who is not the

Republican nominee (or unopposed in primary) w/o

written approval from all the RNC members from the state.

Candidate is not recognized as the nominee under this Rule if

he or she was nominated in a process that allowed voters

who participated in the nomination of a candidate of

another party to participate in the Republican nomination

process.

24



Amendments Rule 12

Rules 1-11 and 13-25 were eligible for amendment

between National Conventions (prior to 10/1/14), with

amendments going into effect 30 days after adoption.

Submission

Sponsor must submit 10 days prior to the meeting of the

full RNC where passage of the amendment is sought.

Adoption

Must pass through the Rules Committee by majority

vote. Then must receive an affirmative vote of ¾ of

the RNC membership.


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Amendments since 2012 National Convention Rules 1-11

RULE 7(c) – Proxy Requirements

• Removed witness requirement for proxies

• Allows filing of proxy by “letter, email or other acceptable form.”

RULE 10(a)(5) – Committee on Arrangements

• Removed chairman of Standing Committee on Contests and each of

the convention committees as ex officio officers of the COA.

RULE 10(a)(8) – State Chairmen’s Advisory Committee

• Removed references to the State Chairmen’s meeting (now the Spring

Meeting)

RULE 10(e)-(f) – added the words “and/or elected” to reflect that not all

committees are appointed.

RULE 10(h) – created the Standing Committee on Presidential Primary

Debates

26



Rules 13 – 25

Rules Relating to Convening the Next

National Convention

- Call of Convention

- Delegates to Convention

- Contests



Call of Next Convention Rule 13

• Must be issued prior to December

1 of year before Convention.

• Includes temporary convention

rules, state delegate counts,

penalties, and proportionality



Membership in the Convention Rule 14

Delegates

• At Large

– 10 from each of the 50 states

– 6 each from American Samoa, Guam, the

Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands

– 16 from the District of Columbia

– 20 from Puerto Rico

• RNC Members

– 3 from each state, District of Columbia, and territories



Membership in the Convention, cont. Rule 14

• District Delegates

– 3 for each US House of Representatives district

• Bonus Delegates – At Large for electoral success. 1 additional Delegate for each of:

– Voting for Republican Presidential nominee

– Electing a Republican Governor

– Each Republican US Senator elected

– Electing at least half the members of U.S. House delegation

– Republican majority in one of a state’s legislative chamber

– Republican majority in all of a state’s legislative chambers

Alternate Delegates

• 1 for each Delegate

• No Alternate Delegates for RNC Members



Delegate Selection Process Rule 16

• Party Rules trump State Law

– California Democratic Party v. Jones, 530 U.S. 567 (2000).

• No “beauty contests” – Any statewide presidential

preference vote must be used to allocate and bind state’s

delegation to the national convention. Rule 16(a)(1)

• No “faithless delegates” – Votes at National Convention

by bound delegates for presidential candidates to whom

delegates are not bound shall not be recognized. Except as

provided by state law or state party rule, presidential

candidates cannot remove delegates. Rule 16(a)(2)



Timing of Delegate Selection Rule 16(c)

2016 Delegate Selection Window:

March 1, 2016 through 2nd Saturday in June (6/11/16).

Exceptions:

IA, NV, NH, SC may conduct their contests up to one month before the next earliest state.


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Proportional Allocation of Delegates Rule 16(c)(2)-(3)

Proportional allocation required for all processes to elect, select, allocate,

or bind delegates to the national convention held prior to March 15

(except carve-outs).

Allocation based on # of statewide or CD votes cast in proportion to total

# of votes received by each candidate.

May have minimum threshold to be awarded any delegates, but not higher

than 20%.

May have minimum threshold to be awarded all delegates, but not lower

than 50%.

33


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Delegate Selection Process Rule 16(d)

Prohibits non-Republicans from participating

and allows states to require additional

qualifications.

If state law allows non-Republicans to

participate, delegates are selected by state

party rules.

34


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Delegate Allocation Rule 16(d)

At large delegates elected at large.

3 delegates and 3 alternate delegates allocated

to represent each congressional district.

No automatic delegates (except for RNC

members).

35


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Changes to Delegate Selection Process Rule 16(d), (f)

October 1, 2015

• Date by which any changes to delegate

selection process must be completed.

Changes made after this date are not

effective.

• Date by which state committees must file its

delegate election procedures with the RNC

36


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

State Conventions Rule 16(e)

Congressional or state conventions are the default method of

delegate election.

Conventions are to be called by the Republican state

committee, with notice published by method sufficient for

general circulation in the county/district/state

Delegates participating in the convention must be

Republicans.

37


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Certification & Filing By 10/1/15 Rule 16(f)

October 1, 2015 deadline to adopt and submit delegate

selection/allocation plan. Rule 16(f)(1)

RNC may grant waiver where not possible for state to comply with

10/1/15 deadline and not possible to use the previous method to

elect delegates to the national convention – but ONLY if in the

best interest of the Republican Party. Rule 16(f)(2).

RNC may grant a waiver from Rules 16(a)(1) & 16(a)(2) where

compliance is impossible AND waiver is in the best interests of

the Republican Party. Rule 16(f)(3).

38



Enforcement of Rules Rule 17

Violation of Rule 16(c)(1): Conducting delegate selection

process prior to March 1.

• States with 30 or more delegates shall have their delegation

reduced to 9 plus RNC members.

• States with 29 or fewer delegates shall have their

delegation reduced to 6 plus RNC members.

Violation of Rule 16(c)(2): Failure to allocate

proportionally for pre-Mach 15 contest.

• Number of delegates and alternate delegates reduced by

50% (but no less than 2 delegates).


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Filling Vacancies in a Delegation Rule 18

Order of precedence for method of filling

vacancies:

1. State Republican Party rules.

2. State laws.

3. In the same manner as delegates were initially

chosen, or by vote of state GOP exec

committee.

4. If vacancy not filled 10 days prior to

Convention, by vote of the state delegation.

40


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Certification of Delegates Rule 20

All delegates and alternates must be chosen no later than 45

days before the date of the meeting of the national

convention.

2016 Deadline: June 3

Credentials for each delegate and alternate must be filed with

the RNC no later than 35 days prior to convention.

2016 Deadline: June 13

41


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Certification of Delegates Rule 20

Who Certifies?

• Convention: Chairman & Secretary of convention or state GOP

• Primary: Canvassing board or officer designated by state law,

forwarded to RNC by Chairman & Secretary of state GOP

• State Committee: Chairman & Secretary of state GOP

Waiver

• RNC Executive Committee may grant a waiver to a state party

that is out of compliance w/ Rule 20 deadlines only if:

• State party makes a reasonable effort to comply; AND

• In best interests of the Republican Party

• Mandatory waiver if efforts impracticable due to non-GOP

control.

42



Other Procedural Rules

• Participation in Delegate Selection Process

– Rule 15

• Excess Delegates and Alternates

– Rule 19

• Temporary Roll

– Rule 22



Contests

• RNC Committee on Contests

– Rule 10(a)(7)

• Resolution by States

– Rule 21

• Contest Filing

– Rule 23

• Contest Procedure

– Rule 24

• Convention Committee on Credentials

– Rule 25


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Amendments since 2012 National Convention Rules 13-25

RULE 16(a)(2)

• Removed automatic resignation for faithless delegates.

• Clarifies that no presidential candidate shall have the power to remove

a delegate.

RULE 16(c)

• Imposed proportionality requirement for pre-March 15 contests

• States that proportional allocation is based on number of votes cast in

proportion to number of votes received by each candidate

• Established permissible vote thresholds:

o Percent of votes necessary to claim any delegates: no higher than 20%

o Percent of votes necessary to claim all delegates: no lower than 50%

RULE 16(d)

• Removed references to the 1988 Republican National Convention

45


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Amendments Since 2012 Convention Rules 13-25

RULE 16(e)

• Added publication on a state party website as means sufficient to

provide notice of the call for any caucus, meeting, or convention to

select delegates to the national convention.

RULE 17(a)

• Increased the delegate penalty for a state that violates the Rule 16(c)(1)

calendar window for primaries/caucuses/conventions.

RULE 17(f)

• Erased removal of RNC members as delegates due to calendar

violation.

RULE 20(a)

• Moved up delegate selection deadline by 10 days to 45 days prior to

the National Convention.

46


COUNSEL’S OFFICE

Amendments Since 2012 Convention Rules 13-25

RULE 20(b)

• Requires state party chairman and secretary to forward certificates of

election for delegates elected by primary.

RULE 20(d)

• Discretionary and mandatory waivers of Rule 20 deadlines.

RULES 23-25

• Updated the rules concerning contests based on lessons learned from

2012 to ensure a more efficient process in 2016.

47



Rules 26 – 42

Proceedings of the National Convention (Temporary Rules until Officially Adopted)

Convention Procedure

Convention Access

Convention Committees

Committee Reports

Voting, Nominations & Roll Call



Convention Procedure

• Order of Business prepared and printed by RNC – time/date, time limits, procedural rules (Rule 26)

• Committee Reports: Credentials first. Rules prior to Platform. All Committee reports prior to nomination of candidates. (Rule 27)

• One vote per delegate; voting by alternates. (Rule 29)



Admission to Convention Hall Rule 28

Delegate Section

• Delegates

• Officers of Convention

• Members of RNC

• Incumbent Governors and MOC’s

Press and Staff Section

Guest Section

Guest passes for each delegate and alternate plus # equal to 1/3 of delegation



Rules of Order Rules 30 - 39

• Rules of the House of Representatives (Rule 30) except: Robert’s Rules of Order for committees, Convention rules for reading reports and resolutions

• 5-minute Delegate debate rule (Rule 31)

• Suspension of Rules – Majority of Delegates from 8 states can require vote to suspend (Rule 32)

• Written submission of Platform resolutions (Rule 33)

• No Platform or Rules minority report without 25% support and timely submission (Rule 34)



Rules of Order Rules 30 - 39

• Motions to table amendments are in order (Rule 35)

• Majority vote for previous question (Rule 36)

• Roll calls (Rule 37):

• Alphabetical by state, announced by delegation chairmen; delegate exception; passing

• Electronic voting generally permitted except for President and VP nominations

• RNC may authorize alternative procedures for Presidential and VP roll calls if Convention cannot meet

• Unit Rule defined and prohibited (Rule 38)

• Roll call may be demanded by majority of delegates from 7 states (Rule 39)



Nominations Rule 40

• Support of majority of Delegates of 8 states

required to have name placed in nomination

for President or VP

• Certificate of support shall be submitted to

at least1 hour prior to placing names into

nomination

• Majority required to become Republican

nominee



Convention Committees Rule 41

• Credentials

• Rules and Order of Business

• Platform

• Permanent Organization

Membership

112 – 1 man and 1 woman from each state (elected)

Chairman and Co-Chairman (appointed by RNC Chairman)

Restrictions

• No Delegate may serve on more than one committee

• No Alternate Delegates unless too few eligible delegates



Temporary Rules Rule 42

Rules 26 – 42:

• Standing Rules of the 2012 Convention, and

• Temporary Rules of the 2016 Convention


COUNSEL’S OFFICE 56 56

This presentation was intended as an introductory overview of

The Rules of the Republican Party. Many details could not

be included. A full copy of the Rules can be found at

gop.com/rules-and-resolutions.


COUNSEL’S OFFICE 57 57

Paid for by the Republican National Committee

Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate's Committee

www.gop.com

rules of the republican party overview

Documents

rnc rule

republican finance committee

executive committee

rnc chairman

state republican party

rnc officers rule

rnc committees rule

national committeeman