2026 NCGOP Plan of Organization

1-101 North Carolina Republican Party and Its Constituent Entities.

The North Carolina Republican Party, as organized in this Plan of Organization, shall have the exclusive right to conduct the affairs of the Republican Party in this State. There are within the State Party constituent entities established by and subject to this Plan. These entities consist of the Republican Party in the precincts, counties, and congressional, judicial, senate, and house districts of this State. A Republican Party organization created exclusively for a municipality, however, is not a constituent entity of the State Party and is not governed by this Plan.

1-102 Party Defined.

Wherever in this Plan it is initially capitalized, the meaning of the word “Party” shall be determined by the context in which it is used. Therefore, it can refer to the Republican Party generally or to the State Party or to any of its constituent entities.

1-201 The Party Derives Its Authority from Its Members.

The North Carolina Republican Party is built from the bottom up. Every year, all registered Republicans can meet at the precinct level to elect Delegates to their County Convention. Annually at the County Convention, those Delegates elect Delegates to the Congressional District and State Conventions. The State Convention can change or update the Party’s Plan of Organization, which governs how the Party works. Members elected at the county and district levels make up most of the State Executive Committee, which is the principal governing body of the Party.

1-202 Member Defined.

Wherever in this Plan it is initially capitalized, the word “Member” shall refer to a United States citizen who is a resident of North Carolina and is registered to vote in this State as a Republican.

1-203 Rights of Members.

All Members shall have the right to participate in the official affairs of the North Carolina Republican Party as provided in this Plan.

1-204 Right to Run for, Be Appointed to, and Hold a Party Office.

(a) General Rule. Any person running for, appointed to, or holding a Party office described in this Plan must be a Member of the Party and a resident of the jurisdiction for which that office has been established. For purposes of this Section, the term “office” includes both elected and appointed membership on committees created or authorized by this Plan.

(b) Exception. Subsection (a) shall not apply to the member of the State Executive and Operating Committees representing the North Carolina Federation of Teenage Republicans if by reason of his or her age, that member is not eligible to register to vote.

(c) Eligibility. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), no Member who, after a final judgment, has ever been convicted of a felony involving a crime of violence, sexual abuse, or child abuse, shall thereafter be eligible to run for, be appointed to, or hold a Party Office.

2-101 Scope of This Plan.

This Plan sets forth how the North Carolina Republican Party is organized and operates. It may be changed by a vote of the Delegates present at any State Convention, or as otherwise provided in this Plan. The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings except when inconsistent with this Plan or Convention rules properly adopted.

2-102 Plans Adopted by Constituent Entities.

Each County and District Party may adopt its own Plan of Organization, provided that the Plan is not inconsistent with this Plan. A previously adopted County or District Plan of Organization shall remain in effect until amended or rescinded by the appropriate Convention. Any County or District that has not adopted its own Plan of Organization shall be governed by this Plan.

2-103 Design of Section Numbers.

The Sections of this Plan are numbered consecutively. The first digit of the number indicates the Article in which the Section appears. The second digit denotes the division of that Article. And the final digits indicate the order in which the Section appears within the division of that Article.

3-101 The Precinct Committee.

Each organized precinct shall have a Precinct Committee which shall, in cooperation with the County Chair and County Executive Committee, administer the affairs of the Party within its precinct. The Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. In addition to these Officers, the Precinct Chair may appoint other Committee members as needed.

3-102 Term of Office.

The Precinct Officers shall be elected at the Annual Precinct Meeting held in an odd-numbered year. Unless sooner becoming ineligible to serve, an Officer’s term of office shall end upon the adjournment of the Annual Precinct Meeting held in the next odd-numbered year. If no successor is elected at that meeting, a vacancy shall occur.

3-103 Duties of the Committee.

The Precinct Committee shall (i) work for the election of Republican candidates for public office; (ii) recruit volunteers to work for the Party and its candidates; (iii) assist the Party in getting out the vote in the precinct; and (iv) provide the County Chair with a list of Members willing to serve as election officials.

3-104 Duties of Individual Officers.

The Officers shall have the duties set forth in this Section.

(a) Chair. The Chair shall be primarily responsible for the affairs of the Party in the precinct and shall preside over the Precinct Meetings.

(b) Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair and preside at any Precinct Meeting when the Chair is not present.

(c) Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Precinct Meetings and other precinct records. In addition, the Secretary shall maintain a list of precinct volunteers and their contact information.

3-105 Vacancy in a Precinct Office.

Precinct Officers shall be entitled to hold their offices until the expiration of their terms or, if earlier, upon the Officer’s death, resignation, removal, or ineligibility to serve. When an office becomes vacant, the County Chair shall nominate a replacement to serve in that office until the next County Executive Committee meeting, at which time the Committee shall appoint that replacement or another Member to complete the term of the vacated office.

3-106 Removal of a Precinct Officer.

A Precinct Officer shall be automatically removed for the reasons contained in Section 9-302. Further, a Precinct Officer who is no longer able to act, is grossly inefficient, fails without rectification to comply with a significant provision of this Plan or the County Plan of Organization, or commits an act of Party disloyalty, as defined in Section 9-304, may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the County Executive Committee upon 15 days’ notice signed by one-third of the voting members of that Committee and after an opportunity to be heard.

3-201 Vacancy in All Offices of the Precinct Committee.

If at any time all of the offices of a Precinct Committee are vacant, the precinct shall be deemed to be unorganized and the County Chair and Executive Committee may fill those vacancies as provided in Section 3-105.

3-202 Non-Resident Administrator.

The Party shall work to have an effective political campaign organization in every precinct of the state. Accordingly, the County Chair is authorized to appoint a Member of the County Party to serve as Administrator of an unorganized precinct in which he or she is not a resident. The Administrator shall (i) act in the role of the Precinct Chair in the conduct of political campaigns and (ii) work to identify residents of the Precinct willing to be elected as members of the Precinct Committee at the Annual Precinct Meeting to be held in the next odd-numbered year, and (iii) preside at Precinct Meetings. The duties of the Administrator shall cease upon the election of a Precinct Chair as provided in Sections 3-102 or 3-105.

3-301 Call and Notice of the Annual Precinct Meeting.

An Annual Meeting of the Members of each precinct shall be held (i) during the month of February and after the number of Delegates allocated to each Precinct is known or (ii), if held on the same day and at the same location as the County Convention, after February 14th and before April 1st. The County Chair shall issue the call of the Meetings by giving Public Notice as defined in Section 9-602 and by notifying the members of the Precinct Committees and the Chair or Chairs of the Congressional Districts within the county. The call and notices shall set forth the time and place of the Meetings and, (i) with respect to Annual Meetings not held in conjunction with the County Convention, shall be issued at least 10 days prior to the Meetings but not later than February 1st, and, (ii) with respect to Annual Meetings held in conjunction with the County Convention, shall be issued at least 10 days before the County Convention but not later than March 1st. As soon as it can be determined, the County Chair shall also notify each Precinct Chair or Member who is expected to Chair an Annual Meeting of the number of Delegates to the County Convention allocated to the precinct.

3-302 Eligibility to Participate.

Notwithstanding Section 1-204 and subject to the limitation in the following sentence, a Member shall be entitled to participate at the Annual Precinct Meeting if he or she (i) was registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican on the previous January 31st or (ii), if not then registered, is registered to vote in the precinct as a Republican at the time of the Annual Meeting but only if during the period between the previous January 1st and the date of the Annual Meeting, he or she became eligible to register to vote in the precinct by establishing residency in the precinct or by attaining the age of 18. No one, however, shall be permitted to participate in more than one Annual Meeting in any year.

3-303 Registration and Quorum.

(a) Registration. Upon arriving at the Annual Precinct Meeting, each participant shall register by providing his or her full legal name, residential address, phone number, and email address, if any.

(b) Quorum. Unless the County Plan of Organization establishes a greater number, a quorum to conduct business at the Annual Precinct Meeting shall be one.

3-304 Eligibility to Be Elected as an Officer or Delegate.

(a) Eligibility. Only those Members who reside in the precinct at the time of the Annual Precinct Meeting and are eligible to participate shall be eligible to be elected as a Precinct Officer or as a Delegate or Alternate to the County Convention. A Member, however, does not have to be present at the Meeting to be elected, provided that the Member complies with the provisions of Section 9-203(b).

(b) Provisional Vote. If the right of an individual to participate cannot be determined at the time of the Annual Meeting, the individual will be allowed to cast a provisional vote. Likewise, a Member may be provisionally elected, subject to a final determination being made by the County Credentials Committee. Further, unless that determination has no bearing on the actions taken at the Annual Precinct Meeting, the establishment of a quorum and the results of the elections conducted at the Meeting shall not be finally decided until the eligibility of all participants has been resolved.

3-305 Election of Precinct Officers.

The Precinct Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held in an odd-numbered year. In addition to absent Members who have nominated themselves by complying with the provisions of Section 9-203(b), the Members present at the Meeting may nominate anyone present, including themselves, or anyone not present who is known to the person nominating that Member to be someone who is willing to serve.

3-306 Election of Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.

Each precinct is authorized to elect Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention at its Annual Meeting. The number of Delegates allocated to each precinct shall equal the sum of (i) one plus (ii) an amount equal to one for every 100 Members, rounded to the nearest multiple of 100, registered in the precinct on January 31st of the year in which the Annual Meeting is held. However, the County Executive Committee may allocate to all precincts in the county a number of Delegates greater than one for every 100 Members. An equal number of Alternates shall be allocated to the precinct. No Alternate, however, shall be elected until all Delegate positions are filled. No one may be elected as a Delegate or Alternate following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

3-307 Certification and Delivery of Annual Meeting Results and Documents.

Promptly after the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, the Secretary of the Meeting shall (i) certify to the County Secretary and the Chair of the County Credentials Committee the full legal names, residential addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of those elected as Officers and as Delegates or Alternates at the Meeting, and (ii) provide the County Secretary and the Chair of the County Credentials Committee a copy of the register described in Section 3-303(a) and a copy of the minutes of the Meeting.

3-401 Call of Other Precinct Meetings.

Any member of the Precinct Committee or any five Precinct Members may call other Precinct Meetings by notifying the members of the Precinct Committee and providing them with a proposed agenda for the Meeting. The Precinct Chair or Vice Chair shall (i) give notice as provided in Section 9-601 to the Members of the Precinct Committee and those calling the meeting and (ii) determine the time and place of the Meeting and shall cause a notice of the Meeting to be posted on the County Party’s website. The Meeting shall be subject to the same quorum requirements as the Annual Meeting. The Secretary of the Meeting shall notify the County Secretary of any action taken at the Meeting.

4-101 Purpose.

The purpose of this Article is to create in each county an effective and efficient Republican organization under the direction of the County Executive Committee and the leadership of the County Officers. The County Republican organization in cooperation with the Party’s candidates is the primary generator of election victories.

4-102 Applicability.

The Officers and Executive Committee members of all County Organizations are expected to make good faith efforts to comply with this ARTICLE and the other provisions of this Plan. If, however, they are unable to do so because of a lack of volunteers, they shall (i) continue to build the Party, (ii) meet as many of the requirements of the Plan as possible with fewer personnel than specified, and (iii) seek help from the District and State Parties.

4-201 Voting Members.

The Members listed in this Section shall constitute the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

(a) Required Members. The County Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, the Election Integrity Chair, and five other members.

(b) Additional Members. Such additional Officers and other members, including Members who hold office by virtue of an ex officio status, as provided in the County Plan of Organization.

(c) Optional Members. The General Counsel, Audit Committee Chair, and Finance Committee Chair, are not automatically members of the Executive Committee, but may be elected to the County Executive Committee as provided in Section 4-301(i).

4-202 Non-voting Members.

A County Plan of Organization may allow non-voting members to serve on the County Executive Committee. Non-voting members may either be elected in the same manner as voting members or hold office by virtue of an ex officio status. Non-voting members may participate in debate at County Executive Committee meetings but shall not be permitted to make motions or vote. They shall not be taken into account in determining the existence of a quorum.

4-203 The Election or Appointment of the County Executive Committee.

Except for the Election Integrity Chair and Members who hold office by virtue of an ex officio status, the Officers and Committee members described in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 4-201 shall be elected at the County Convention held in an odd-numbered year. Upon taking office, the County Chair shall nominate (i) the Election Integrity Chair and the Audit Committee Chair and (ii) may nominate a General Counsel and a Finance Committee Chair, if that Committee is created in accordance with Section 4-302(d), each of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the County Executive Committee.

4-301 Duties of the County Executive Committee.

The County Executive Committee shall have the duties set forth in this Section.

(a) Elect Republicans. Work for the election of Republican candidates for public office.

(b) Management. Manage the affairs of the Party within the county.

(c) Meetings. Meet at least quarterly at the call of the County Chair or the call of one-third of its voting members, at which the quorum to conduct business shall be 25 percent of the voting members of the Committee unless the County Plan of Organization requires a greater percentage.

(d) Cooperation. Cooperate with the Congressional District and State Executive Committees in all elections and Party activities.

(e) Candidates. Encourage qualified candidates to run for office within the county.

(f) Budget. Adopt an annual budget.

(g) Board of Elections. Recommend nominees to the State Chair for appointment to the County Board of Elections in accordance with Section 9-502.

(h) Nominations. Confirm or reject Members nominated by the County Chair as (i) the Election Integrity Chair, the General Counsel, and the Audit Committee Chair, (ii) the Finance Committee Chair, if that Committee is created in accordance with Section 4-302(d), and (iii) the members of the Credentials Committee formed in connection with the County Convention. Further, with the exception of the Election Integrity Chair who is a member of the County Executive Committee as provided in Section 4-201(a), confirm or reject any of the General Counsel, Audit Committee Chair, and the Finance Committee Chair as members of the County Executive Committee.

(i) Inconsistent County Plan. Amend the County Plan only to the extent necessary to make it consistent with the State Plan.

(j) Fill Vacancies in County Offices. After conducting a meeting reasonably calculated to be fair to all potential candidates, recommend a nominee to the appropriate governmental authority to complete the unexpired term of any county public official who no longer holds an office, as permitted by law.

(k) Replacement of Republican Nominee. Fill the vacancy created by a Republican nominee for a county office dying, resigning, or becoming disqualified or ineligible to run before the general election.

(l) Members Absent from an Annual Precinct Meeting or County Convention. Adopt a procedure that complies with Section 9-203 of this Plan and which permits Members not present at a Meeting or Convention to be elected as Officers, Committee members, Delegates and Alternates.

4-302 Committees.

(a) The Executive Board. The County Plan of Organization may create an Executive Board consisting of the County Officers for the purpose of exercising the County Executive Committee’s management function between the meetings of the Committee.

(b) The Election Integrity Committee. The Election Integrity Committee shall consist of the Election Integrity Chair and such other members as the County Chair may appoint. The Committee shall be responsible for identifying and reporting election fraud and maintaining trained and qualified election observers in every precinct. In addition, the Committee shall monitor the canvassing of votes by the Board of Elections and shall challenge any votes believed to have been improperly cast. The Election Integrity Chair shall preside over the Election Integrity Committee.

(c) Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall consist of the Audit Committee Chair and such other members as the County Chair may appoint. The Committee shall conduct an annual review of the financial records of the County Party and report the results of its review and any recommendations to the County Executive Committee. The Audit Committee Chair shall preside over the Audit Committee.

(d) Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is an optional Committee and can be created

(i) by the County Plan of Organization or (ii) by the County Chair nominating and the County Executive Committee confirming a Finance Committee Chair. The Committee may consist of such other Members as the County Chair may appoint. It shall have active management of the fundraising efforts within the county and shall cooperate, as needed, with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees. The Finance Chair shall preside over the Finance Committee.

(e) Other Committees. The County Chair may create, charge, and appoint the Chairs and members of other committees deemed necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of the Party.

4-401 Duties of the Officers.

In addition to the duties assigned to them elsewhere in this Plan, the County Officers shall have the duties set forth in Sections 4-402 through 4-405.

4-402 Chair.

The Chair shall have the duties listed below.

(a) Supervision. Have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the county.

(b) Party Organization. With the assistance of the Precinct Committees, create and maintain an active Republican organization in every precinct within the county.

(c) Appointments. Nominate or appoint Members as provided in this Plan.

(d) Meetings. Call and preside at meetings of the County Executive Committee and any Executive Board established by the County Plan of Organization.

(e) Call. Issue the call for the Annual Precinct Meetings as provided in Section 3-301, the County Convention as provided in Section 8-101, and any District meeting as provided in Section 5-103. In this connection, the Chair shall describe the procedure set forth in Section 4-301(l) in the public notice of the Annual Precinct Meetings and County Convention.

(f) Congressional Districts. Serve on, attend meetings of, and make periodic reports on the status of the County Party to the Executive Committees of each congressional district within the county.

(g) State Party. Serve on and attend meetings of the State Executive Committee.

(h) Communication. Promote effective communications among Party Officers, Members, and committees, including encouraging the use of best technologies, such as the Party’s website.

(i) Other Duties. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the County, Congressional District, or State Executive Committees.

4-403 Vice Chair.

The Vice Chair shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair and shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chair or County Executive Committee. Further, if the Chair has not issued the calls for the Annual Precinct Meetings or the County Convention in a timely manner, the Vice Chair shall issue those calls and may designate someone to chair the Convention and appoint the committees described in Section 8-102. In addition, the Vice Chair shall serve on and attend meetings of the Executive Committee of each congressional district within the county and serve on and attend meetings of the State Executive Committee.

4-404 Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records of Executive Committee meetings, shall maintain a roster of all Precinct and Executive Committee members, and shall furnish lists of those members to the County Executive Committee members, the State Party, and to each Congressional District Party within the county, upon request and whenever a change in those members occurs.

4-405 Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds, make a financial report at each meeting of the County Executive Committee, fulfill all duties imposed upon the treasurer of a political organization under federal and state law and comply with the provisions of Section 9-105. Further, the Treasurer shall serve as a resource for members of the Precinct Committees and the Executive Committee with respect to the campaign finance rules.

4-501 General Counsel.

The General Counsel shall be a lawyer licensed in North Carolina who shall provide parliamentary advice and general legal advice that is not inconsistent with the advice of the State General Counsel.

5-101 Purpose.

The provisions of this ARTICLE authorize members of a District Executive Committee to fill a vacancy in the office of a member of the General Assembly, as provided in G.S. 163-11, or to replace a nominee for State Senate, State Representative, Judge of the Superior or District Court, or District Attorney who dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified or ineligible to run before the general election, as provided in G.S. 163-114. District Executive Committees consist of voting members of a County Executive Committee or Committees, as provided in Section 5-102, and are only required to be established when it is necessary to carry out the functions described above.

5-102 Membership.

(a) Districts That Are Contiguous with or Wholly within One County. If the District is contiguous with or wholly within one county, the District Executive Committee shall consist of the voting members of that County’s Executive Committee who reside in the district, all of whom shall be deemed to have automatically appointed themselves to be members of the District Executive Committee and each of whom shall have one vote to fill a vacancy or replace a nominee.

(b) Multi-county Districts. If the District comprises all or part of more than one county, the District Executive Committee shall consist of the qualified voting members of each County Executive Committee within the district, all of whom shall be deemed to have automatically appointed themselves to be members of the District Executive Committee. For this purpose, the qualified voting members shall be the members of a County Executive Committee who reside in the multi-county district.

(c) No Resident Member of a County Executive Committee. If no voting member of a County Executive Committee resides within a State Senate, House, or Judicial District, either wholly or partially within a county, the County Chair shall nominate, and the County Executive Committee shall confirm or reject, one or more Members who reside in the district to be the member or members of the County Executive Committee, all of whom shall, upon confirmation, be entitled to serve on, and shall be deemed to have automatically appointed themselves to, the appropriate District Executive Committee. The notice requirement contained in Section 9-209 shall not apply to a meeting of the County Executive Committee held for this purpose if notice of the meeting cannot be given more than 10 days before the scheduled District Executive Committee meeting. The member or members selected under this Section shall have no other powers or duties as members of the County Executive Committee and the authorization conferred on them shall expire when the business described in this ARTICLE is complete.

5-103 Meetings to Fill a Vacancy or Replacement of a Nominee.

(a) Call. A meeting to fill a vacancy or replace a nominee as provided in this ARTICLE may be called by the County Chair of a district within the county or a county within the district, the Congressional District Chair, or the State Chair, by giving notice of the time and place of the meeting. The notice requirement contained in Section 9-209 shall not apply to a meeting if the Officer calling the meeting determines that the Committee must act within 10 days of the call.

(b) Chair. The members of the appropriate committee shall elect a Chair to preside over its meeting.

5-104 Meetings to Fill a Vacancy in the General Assembly.

A District Executive Committee shall, at the meeting called under Section 5-103, fill a vacancy in the seat of a member of the General Assembly who represented the district and who was affiliated with the Republican Party at the time he or she was elected. The votes of the members of a multi-county District Executive Committee shall be weighted in accordance with North Carolina law.

5-105 Meetings to Replace a Nominee.

A District Executive Committee shall, at the meeting called under Section 5-103, replace the Republican nominee for State Senate, State Representative, Judge of the Superior or District Court, or District Attorney who dies, resigns, or becomes disqualified or ineligible to run before the general election. The votes of the members of a multi-county District Executive Committee shall be weighted in accordance with the number of registered Republicans residing in each portion of a County within the District.

5-106 Certification.

The County Secretary or a member designated by the District Executive Committee, as the case may be, shall certify (i) the recommendation to fill a vacancy to the Governor or (ii) the replacement of a Republican nominee to the Chair of the State or County Board of Elections having jurisdiction over the ballot item. The recommendation to fill a vacancy shall also be reported to the Republican leader of the applicable House of the General Assembly and to the State Chair. The replacement of a nominee shall also be reported to the Chairs of each County within the district and to the State Chair.

6-101 Purpose.

The primary purpose of the Congressional District organization is to ensure the election of the Republican nominee for the office of Representative in Congress. Additionally, the organization supports the County Parties within the district, first, by providing a forum for the members of the District Executive Committee (i) to exchange ideas and information and (ii) to discuss problems encountered and solutions achieved in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the County Parties and, second, by keeping the State Party informed of the needs of individual County Parties.

6-201 Voting Members.

The Members listed in this Section shall constitute the voting members of the District Executive Committee.

(a) District Officers. The District Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

(b) County Officers. The Chair and Vice Chair of each county or portion of a county within the district even if they do not reside in the district.

(c) Appointed Officials. The District Finance Chair, Audit Committee Chair, and General Counsel.

(d) Committee Members. The At Large Committee members described in Section 8-203(b).

(e) Additional Members. Such additional Officers and other members as provided in the District Plan of Organization who are elected at the District Convention.

6-202 Duties.

The Committee shall perform the duties set forth in this Section.

(a) Management. Manage the affairs of the District Party.

(b) Support County Parties. In order to build stronger County Parties, the Committee shall periodically elicit from its members a report of their respective County’s activities and needs, including successes and frustrations. In response, Committee members should suggest best practices designed to improve all County Parties. In doing so, however, the Committee must remain aware that the different County Parties do not have identical resources and that suggestions should be tailored to the limitations faced by each Party.

(c) Meetings. The Committee shall meet at least each calendar quarter at the call of the District Chair or the call of one-third of its voting members. Unless the District Plan of Organization requires a greater percentage, a quorum to conduct business at any meeting shall be 25 percent of the members of the Committee.

(d) Budget. The Committee shall adopt an annual budget.

(e) Replacement of Republican Nominee. The Committee shall fill the vacancy created by a Republican nominee for Representative in Congress dying, resigning, or becoming disqualified or ineligible to run before the general election.

6-203 Limitation on Authority.

The Committee shall not exercise control over the operation of any County Party.

6-301 The Chair.

In addition to the duties imposed on a District Chair serving on the State Operating Committee and Executive Committee, the Chair shall have the duties set forth in this Section.

(a) Meetings. Preside over the meetings of the District Executive Committee.

(b) Party Organization. In accordance with Section 6-202(b), facilitate among Committee members discussions relating to the improvement of the organization of individual County Parties and, in this connection, develop a list of suggested best practices for those Parties. Further, without limiting the authority of any County Party within the district, (i) support and advise those Parties in establishing effective Republican County and Precinct organizations and (ii) identify and indicate to affected County Parties any conflict in scheduling or activities among them.

(c) Unorganized Counties. Oversee the reconstitution of any County Party within the District that becomes unorganized.

(d) Reports. Make periodic reports to the Operating Committee of the status of County Parties and confirm that any assistance needed by a County Party has been provided.

(e) Convention. Issue the call for the annual Congressional District Convention and may issue the call for the County Convention or Annual Precinct Meetings in accordance with Section 8-101 if the Officers of a County Party have not issued the call.

(f) Appointment of Officials. Appoint the District General Counsel, Audit Committee Chair, and Finance Chair.

(g) Standing Committee Appointments. Appoint the Members of the Standing Committees as provided in Section 7-507(a).

(h) Other Duties. Keep the nominee for and the Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for his or her district informed of State Party matters and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the State Chair, Operating Committee, State Executive Committee, or Congressional District Executive Committee.

6-302 The Vice Chair.

The Vice Chair shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair, serve on the State Executive Committee, serve as a non-voting member of the Operating Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chair or District Executive Committee.

6-303 Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records of Executive Committee meetings and shall maintain a roster of all District Executive Committee members and of all Precinct and County Executive Committee members within the district. When requested, the Secretary shall distribute to County Officers a current list of all County Officers, including their contact information, within the district.

6-304 Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds, make a financial report at each meeting of the District Executive Committee, propose an annual budget to the Committee, fulfill all duties imposed upon the treasurer of a political organization under federal and state law, and comply with the provisions of Section 9-105.

6-401 General Counsel.

The General Counsel shall be a lawyer licensed in North Carolina who shall provide parliamentary advice and general legal advice that is not inconsistent with the advice of the State General Counsel.

6-402 Audit Committee Chair.

The District Audit Committee Chair shall preside over the Audit Committee which shall conduct an annual audit at the direction of the District Executive Committee and report its findings and recommendations to the District Executive Committee. He or she shall also render advice to the County Audit Committee Chairs and assist in County audits as needed within the district.

6-403 Finance Chair.

The District Finance Chair shall render advice to the County Finance Chairs and others engaged in fundraising on behalf of the County Parties within the district.

6-501 In General.

Whenever the Congressional District maps are subject to legislative or judicial change, (i) any transition of the Congressional District organizations from the existing districts to new ones shall take place in an orderly manner and (ii) the Party shall be prepared to conduct successful campaigns for all U. S. House seats in the state.

6-502 Congressional District Conventions in Redistricting Years.

The call of the Congressional District Conventions shall not be affected by the possibility or likelihood that the Congressional District maps will change after the call. Further, the Conventions will take place in the month of April as provided in Section 8-201. The election of Officers and At Large Committee members in odd-numbered years, the election of Delegates to the National Convention and Presidential electors in Presidential Election Years, and the appointment of members of the Standing Committees by the District Chair shall not be affected by actual or potential changes to the maps after the call.

6-503 Call of New District Executive Committee Organizational Meetings.

The State Chair shall call an organizational meeting of each new Congressional District Executive Committee as soon as (i) he or she has determined that new congressional district maps are not likely to change before the next general election and (ii) congressional district registration data is available for voters living in counties that are in more than one district.

6-504 Membership of New Committees.

(a) County Officers and Members. The County Chairs and Vice Chairs of each county or portion of a county within the new district, even if they do not reside in the district, and the At Large Committee members who reside in the new district and who were elected at the most recent Congressional District Convention held in an odd-numbered year shall be members of the new Congressional District Executive Committees.

(b) District Chair. A District Chair who was serving immediately prior to the finalization of the new congressional district maps shall also serve as the District Chair of a new district if it is determined that a majority of the registered Republicans in the new district in which he or she resides were also residents of the Chair’s prior district. This determination and the determination under Section 6-505 shall be made as of the last day of the month prior to the call of the organizational meeting.

6-505 Survival of Plan of Organization of Prior District.

If a majority of the registered Republicans in a new congressional district were also members of the same prior congressional district, the Plan of Organization of the prior District shall govern the organization of the new District.

6-506 Organizational Meeting of the New Congressional District Executive Committee.

(a) Chair. The District Chair entitled to serve under Section 6-504(b), if any, otherwise the Chair of the county having the greatest number of registered Republicans in the district shall preside at the organizational meeting.

(b) Attendees. In addition to the members of the new Committee, anyone residing in the new district who was an elected or appointed Officer of any Congressional District Organization immediately prior to the finalization of the congressional district maps shall be invited to attend the organizational meeting and may be nominated to any office to be filled at that meeting.

(c) Action. Except for a District Chair entitled to serve under Section 6-504(b), the Committee shall elect the District Officers who ordinarily would be elected at a District Convention held in an odd-numbered year. The terms of those Officers, including the District Chair, shall end upon the adjournment of the next District Convention. If held in an even-numbered year, that Convention shall elect the District Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, and any additional Officers or Committee members provided for in the District Plan of Organization, in the same manner as provided by Section 8-203 for elections that take place in an odd-numbered year.

6-507 Appointed Positions.

(a) Appointed Officers. Following the organizational meeting described in Section 6-506, the District Chair shall appoint the District Finance Chair, Audit Committee Chair, and General Counsel.

(b) Standing Committee Members. The members of all Standing Committees appointed by District Chairs shall continue to be members of those Committees even if more than one of them resides in the same new congressional district.

7-101 Role of the State Executive Committee.

The State Executive Committee is the supreme governing body of the Party.

7-102 Members.

The State Executive Committee shall consist of the following members.

(a) State Members. The State Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, General Counsel, Finance Chair, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant General Counsel, and the Assistant Finance Chair.

(b) Congressional Members The Congressional District Chairs, Vice Chairs, General Counsels, and Finance Chairs.

(c) County Members. The County Chairs and Vice Chairs.

(d) At Large Committee Members. The At Large Committee members described in Section 8-203(b).

(e) Affiliate Leaders. The Chairs and Vice Chairs or Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Affiliated Republican Organizations, being (i) the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women, (ii) the North Carolina Federation of Republican Men, (iii) the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans, (iv) the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans, (v) the North Carolina Federation of Teenage Republicans, (vi) the Frederick Douglass Foundation of North Carolina, (vii) the North Carolina Chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and (viii) the District and County Officers Association of the North Carolina Republican Party.

(f) Past State Chair. The immediate past State Chair.

(g) Ex Officio Members. The Republican members of the North Carolina delegation to the United States Congress, the Council of State, and the General Assembly.

7-103 Meetings.

(a) In General. The State Executive Committee shall meet at the same location as, and on the day following the adjournment of, the annual State Convention. It shall also meet at least one additional time per calendar year, upon call by written notice to the State Secretary from (i) the State Chair, (ii) one-third of the voting members of the Operating Committee, or (iii) one-third of the members of the State Executive Committee. It shall also meet whenever called for the purpose of filling a vacancy as provided in subsections (a) or (b) of Section 7-401 or to decide a disciplinary matter under Section 9-307(b)(2).

(b) New Business. The business at each regular meeting shall include potential new business from the floor.

(c) Location. Meetings of the State Executive Committee shall be held in the central part of the state. This requirement, however, shall not apply to the meeting held in conjunction with and at the same location as the State Convention. Further, if, because of unexpected circumstances, an appropriate facility is not available in the central part of the state, the Operating Committee may choose a suitable convenient location for the State Executive Committee meeting.

7-104 Quorum.

A quorum to conduct the business of the State Executive Committee shall be 25 percent of the members of the Committee. For this purpose, an Ex Officio member who is absent shall not be taken into account in determining the number of members of the State Executive Committee.

7-105 Duties of the Committee.

The State Executive Committee shall have the following duties.

(a) Policy. Adopt policies to be implemented by the Operating Committee.

(b) Budget. Annually approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the two-year budget presented to it by the Operating Committee at the meeting held in conjunction with the State Convention. If the Committee fails to adopt a budget, the budget that was most recently approved shall remain in effect for the year beginning on the following July 1.

(d) Elect Officers. At the meeting held in conjunction with the State Convention in an odd-numbered year, elect a Secretary and an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer, a General Counsel and an Assistant General Counsel, all of whom shall serve until the adjournment of the next State Convention held in an odd-numbered year or, if later, until their successors are elected.

(e) Reports. Receive status reports from the State Chair and the Chair of the Finance Committee and make any recommendations it deems appropriate.

(f) Discipline. Preside over any disciplinary matter assigned to it in accordance with Section 9-307.

(g) Delegate authority. Authorize the Operating Committee or others to act on its behalf.

7-201 Voting Members.

The voting members of the Operating Committee shall consist of the State Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, General Counsel, Finance Chair, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, the Congressional District Chairs, the immediate past State Chair, the Republican Joint Caucus Leader of the General Assembly, the Republican Leader of the North Carolina House of Representatives, the Republican Leader of the North Carolina Senate, and the Chairs or Presidents of those Affiliated Republican Organizations described in Section 7-102(e).

7-202 Non-voting Members.

The Operating Committee shall also consist of the following non-voting members.

(a) State Officers. The State Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant General Counsel, and Assistant Finance Chair.

(b) District Vice Chairs. The Congressional District Vice Chairs.

7-203 Substitute Voting Members.

If the State Secretary, Treasurer, General Counsel, Finance Chair, a Congressional District Chair, or the Chair or President of an Affiliated Republican Organization is not present at an Operating Committee meeting, the Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant General Counsel, Assistant Finance Chair, Vice Chair of the Congressional District, or the Vice Chair or Vice President of the Affiliated Republican Organization, respectively, may act as a voting member of the Committee in the place of the absent Officer.

7-204 Meetings.

The Operating Committee shall meet at least once every other month upon call by written notice to the State Secretary from the State Chair or from one-third of the Committee’s voting members. A quorum for conducting business shall be 25 percent of the voting members. For this purpose, a substitute voting member shall be treated as a voting member when present and acting in the place of an absent member.

7-205 Duties of the Committee.

The Operating Committee shall have the duties set forth in this Section.

(a) Party Organization. Be ultimately responsible for the creation and maintenance of effective Republican organizations throughout the state.

(b) Arbitration Committee. Appoint the members of the Arbitration Committee as provided in Section 7-601.

(c) Other Appointments. Appoint committees to conduct Party affairs as it deems necessary.

(d) Negotiate Compensation. Unless compensation is waived by the State Chair, negotiate a compensation package with the State Chair.

(e) Headquarters and Staff. (i) Employ an Executive Director who, among other things, will be responsible for hiring staff members and (ii) provide a Headquarters in or near Raleigh.

(f) Circulation of Transmittals. Oversee the development, promulgation, and maintenance of an NCGOP website portal that permits Members to comply with those provisions of this Plan that require them to communicate with and transmit information or documents to District and State Officers or Committees.

(g) Financial. Formulate fiscal policy, establish financial goals, and prior to the convening of each State Convention prepare a two-year budget for the period beginning on the following July 1, and present that budget to the State Executive Committee at its meeting held in conjunction with the State Convention. The budget shall show anticipated monthly and cumulative categorized revenue, expenses including a reasonable allowance for travel and entertainment expenses, and cash flow.

(h) Conventions. Set the date for the State Convention and, when necessary, the dates of other Conventions.

(i) Reports. Keep accurate records of its proceedings and through the State Chair make periodic reports of its activities to the State Executive Committee.

(j) Other Duties. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the State Executive Committee.

7-301 The Chair.

The State Chair is a full-time position. He or she shall have the following duties.

(a) Supervision. Have general supervision of the affairs of the Party.

(b) Preside. Preside over the meetings of the Operating Committee and State Executive Committee.

(c) Fund-raiser. Be the primary fund-raiser for the Party.

(d) Appointments. Appoint the Finance Chair, the Assistant Finance Chair, and three members of the Auditing Committee.

(e) County Boards of Elections. Recommend to the State Board of Elections Members to serve on the county Boards of Elections.

(f) Standing Committees. Appoint three members of each Standing Committee and designate from their membership the Chair of each of those Committees.

(g) Delegation. Enlist the aid of the Congressional District Chairs in carrying out the duty of overseeing the operation of the Party.

(h) Other Duties. Perform other duties assigned to the Chair by the Operating Committee or Executive Committee.

7-302 The Vice Chair.

The Vice Chair shall act as Chair in the absence of the Chair and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chair, the Operating Committee, or State Executive Committee. In addition, the Vice Chair shall keep Republican members of the United States Senate, Republican members of the Council of State, and Republican nominees for statewide office informed of State Party matters.

7-303 The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman.

The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall keep the Operating Committee and State Executive Committee informed of National Party matters.

7-304 The Secretary and the Assistant Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Operating Committee meetings and State Executive Committee meetings and maintain the records of the Party. The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary in these duties and shall act as Secretary in the absence of the Secretary.

7-305 The Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall be bonded at the expense of the State Party in an amount determined by the Operating Committee. The Treasurer shall also receive and disburse all funds of the State Party, make a financial report at each meeting of the Operating Committee and State Executive Committee in such detail as required by those Committees, fulfill all duties imposed upon the treasurer of a political organization under federal and state law, and comply with the provisions of Section 9-105. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in these duties and shall act as Treasurer in the absence of the Treasurer. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall comply with the provisions of Section 9-105.

7-306 The General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel.

The General Counsel shall advise the Operating Committee and State Executive Committee on legal matters and shall act as parliamentarian at the meetings of those Committees. The Assistant General Counsel shall assist the General Counsel in these duties and shall act as General Counsel in the absence of the General Counsel. Further, the Assistant General Counsel shall act as the Party’s chief Election Integrity Officer and shall, in conjunction with the District General Counsels and the County Election Integrity Committee Chairs, be responsible for identifying and reporting election fraud by, among other things, building a team of trained election observers in each precinct of the state.

7-307 The Finance Chair.

The Finance Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Finance Committee and shall make reports at each meeting of the Operating Committee and State Executive Committee.

7-401 Vacancies.

A vacancy shall occur upon the death, resignation, removal, or ineligibility to serve of a State Officer or State Executive Committee member, at which time the position of the Officer or member, including a member’s position on the Operating Committee, shall be filled in accordance with the following subsections.

(a) Chair. The Vice Chair shall call a Special Meeting of the State Executive Committee to be held within 60 days after the office of the Chair becomes vacant for the purpose of electing a new Chair. During the interim, the Vice Chair shall act as temporary Chair. In the absence of the Vice Chair, the Secretary shall fulfill these functions.

(b) Vice Chair. The Chair shall call a meeting of the State Executive Committee to be held within 60 days after the office of the Vice Chair becomes vacant for the purpose of electing a new Vice Chair. During the interim, the Secretary, if available, otherwise the Treasurer shall act as temporary Vice Chair.

(c) Other Officers. The State Executive Committee shall fill any vacancy in any other elected State Party office at its meeting next occurring after the vacancy. During the interim, the Assistant Officer shall temporarily act as Secretary, Treasurer, or General Counsel, as the case may be. In filling a vacancy in the office of National Committeeman or National Committeewoman, the State Executive Committee shall comply with any additional requirements contained in the Rules of the Republican Party as adopted by the Republican National Convention or amended by the Republican National Committee.

(d) Appointed Roles. The Chair shall appoint a new Finance Chair or Assistant Finance Chair.

(e) District and County Officers. If the position of an Operating Committee member or State Executive Committee member, who serves by reason of being elected to a District or County office, becomes vacant, that position shall be filled by the District or County Executive Committee, as the case may be, in accordance with the District or County’s Plan of Organization, if any, otherwise in accordance with this Plan.

(f) At Large Committee members. If the position of an At Large Committee member on the State Executive Committee becomes vacant, that position shall be filled in accordance with Section 9-108(d).

(g) Affiliated Organization. If the position of a State Executive Committee member who serves by reason of holding an office in an Affiliated Republican Organization becomes vacant, that position shall be filled by the Organization in accordance with its governing instrument.

7-501 The Committees.

(a) Standing Committees. There shall be five Standing Committees of the State Party, being (i) the Plan of Organization Committee, (ii) the Platform Committee, (iii) the Resolutions Committee, (iv) the Credentials Committee, and (v) the Rules Committee. The mission of each of these Committees is set forth in Sections 7-502 through 7-506 below.

(b) The National Convention Selection Committees. There shall be a National Convention Selection Committee for each State Convention held in a presidential election year. The duties of that Committee are set forth in Section 8-402 below.

(c) Common Provisions. Section 7-507 below shall apply to all of the Committees described in this Section.

7-502 The Plan of Organization Committee.

(a) Mission. In addition to the provisions of this Section, the Plan of Organization Committee shall propose for adoption by the State Convention amendments to the Plan which it deems necessary or advisable. The Committee may consider suggestions made by Members and by the State Executive Committee.

(b) Final Authority. The Committee is the final interpretative body concerning questions relating to (i) the State Plan of Organization, (ii) the determination of a conflict between the State Plan and any County or District Plan, and (iii) parliamentary procedure. In this connection, however, any question that implicates state or federal law shall be referred to the General Counsel.

(c) Procedure. Questions raised under clause (i) of subsection (b) shall first be referred to the Chair of the Plan of Organization Committee and the General Counsel for decision. If they cannot agree or if either of them so chooses, the matter shall be referred to the full Plan of Organization Committee. Any decision made by the Chair of the Plan of Organization Committee and the General Counsel may be appealed by the person who posed the question to the full Plan of Organization Committee within 30 days of his or her receipt of the ruling.

(d) Drafting Guidelines. The Committee is charged with assuring that the style and formatting of this Plan remain consistent. Accordingly, the Committee shall adopt Drafting Guidelines designed to maintain uniform use of words and proper grammar and to ensure that future Committees will adhere to a consistent approach when amending this Plan. The Committee may change the Guidelines, provided that the Committee simultaneously amends this Plan to conform with those changes and, further, that the amendments made do not alter the substance of the Plan.

(e) Corrections. The Committee shall correct any spelling, typographical, punctuation, grammar, formatting, and other similar errors in the Plan, provided that those corrections do not alter the substance of the Plan.

(f) Amendments Proposed by the State Plan of Organization Committee. The Committee shall not propose to the State Convention an amendment to this Plan without first determining that the amendment is consistent with its current Drafting Guidelines and that it does not conflict with any other provision in this Plan. Further, the Committee shall, if necessary, propose amendments to ensure that this Plan (i) complies with federal and state law and (ii) remains consistent with the Rules of the Republican Party as adopted by the most recent Republican National Convention and as amended by the Republican National Committee.

(g) Amendments From the Floor Adopted by the State Convention. The following subsections apply to any amendment to this Plan adopted by the State Convention and which was not proposed by the Committee.

(1) Incompatible with Style. The Committee shall make changes, if necessary, to the amendment in order that it may comply with the Drafting Guidelines, provided that those changes do not alter the substance of the amendment.

(2) Inconsistent with Plan Determined Prior to Adoption. If, prior to the adoption of the amendment by the State Convention, the Committee determines that the amendment is incompatible with another provision of this Plan, the Committee shall prepare a revision to the amendment to reconcile the inconsistency. The Committee shall consult with the Delegate(s) proposing the amendment when drafting the revision to the amendment. The Committee shall deliver the revision as promptly as possible to the Delegate(s) proposing the amendment and to the State Chair so that the revision to the amendment can be posted on the Party’s website.

(3) Inconsistent with Plan Determined After Adoption. If, after the adoption of the amendment by the State Convention, the Committee determines that the amendment is incompatible with another provision of this Plan, it shall prepare an additional amendment or amendments designed to reconcile the inconsistency and shall propose the changes to the next State Executive Committee meeting for temporary approval until addressed at the next State Convention.

(h) Effective Date of Amendments to the Plan. Except as provided in the preceding Sections or by the terms of an amendment adopted by the State Convention, all amendments to this Plan shall become effective upon the adjournment of the State Convention at which they are adopted.

(i) Determination of Inconsistency with the State Plan. Upon written notice by any Member to the State Plan of Organization Committee alleging that the Plan of Organization of a County or District Party is not consistent with the State Plan, the validity of the allegation shall be considered by the Committee and, if that Party’s Plan is inconsistent with this Plan, a written opinion so holding shall be issued. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the County or District’s Plan of Organization, the Executive Committee of that Party shall adopt changes designed to bring its Plan into compliance with the State Plan within 60 days of the issuance of the opinion and shall provide the Committee with a copy of its amended Plan. The State Plan of Organization Committee shall promptly notify in writing the County or District Party whether or not its Plan, as amended, is in compliance with the State Plan. The County or District Party shall be governed by this Plan during the period between the issuance of the opinion and the notice of compliance.

(j) Temporary Amendments Necessary to Comply with Law. The State Plan of Organization Committee shall temporarily amend this Plan in order to comply with changes in state or federal law or regulations. Any amendment made under this subsection shall be effective upon its adoption by the Committee but shall be subject to change by the State Executive Committee at its next called meeting following the adoption of the temporary amendment. The amendment, as so adopted or changed, shall expire upon the adjournment of the next State Convention.

(k) Model County Plan of Organization. The State Plan of Organization Committee is authorized to adopt a Model County Plan of Organization and amend it from time to time. The Model Plan shall contain only those provisions necessary or appropriate for the proper organization and operation of the County Party. A County Party may adopt the Model Plan as its own Plan of Organization and may amend it in a manner not inconsistent with this Plan and as provided in the Model Plan.

7-503 The Platform Committee.

The Platform Committee shall propose for adoption by each State Convention a Platform setting forth the principles of the North Carolina Republican Party. The Committee may consider suggestions made by Members and by the State Executive Committee.

7-504 The Resolutions Committee.

The Resolutions Committee may propose for adoption by each State Convention resolutions affirming the Party’s position on relevant current political, legislative, moral, social, and other similar issues. Prior to a Convention, the Committee may consider concepts submitted by members of the Committee, adopted by District or County Conventions, or suggested by Members. The Committee is responsible for combining similar resolutions and refining their language. Resolutions inconsistent with this Plan, containing personal attacks, or considered tasteless by the Committee shall not be submitted to the Convention.

7-505 The Credentials Committee.

The Credentials Committee shall determine that all Delegates and Alternates to the State Convention are eligible to serve and were duly elected. The Committee may issue guidelines to facilitate the orderly registration of Delegates and Alternates at the State Convention.

7-506 The Rules Committee.

The Rules Committee shall propose rules that are consistent with this Plan and that will facilitate a fair, open, and efficient State Convention. The Committee may consider suggestions made by Members and by the State Executive Committee.

7-507 Common Provisions.

(a) Appointment of Members of the Standing Committees. The State Chair shall appoint three members and each of the Congressional District Chairs shall appoint one member to each of the Standing Committees after the State Convention held in an odd-numbered year and before September 1st of that year. When a Committee is fully formed, the State Chair shall designate its Chair. The Committees shall remain in existence until the next committee is fully formed and the State Chair has designated the Committee Chair. If a vacancy occurs in a Committee, the State Chair or Congressional District Chair, as the case may be, shall appoint a replacement.

(b) Appointment of members of the National Convention Selection Committee. The National Committeeman and the National Committeewoman shall be members of the National Convention Selection Committee. The State Chair shall appoint three additional members and each of the Congressional District Chairs shall appoint one member to the Committee within 30 days following the adjournment of the State Convention in the year preceding a presidential election year. When the Committee is fully formed, the State Chair shall designate its Chair. The Committee shall remain in existence until its duties have been performed and the State Chair discharges it. If a vacancy occurs in the Committee, the State Chair or Congressional District Chair, as the case may be, shall appoint a replacement.

(c) Ineligible Appointees. The State Party Chair shall not appoint a current District Chair, himself or herself or his or her spouse to any Standing Committee described in this section. A Congressional District Chair shall not appoint himself or herself or his or her spouse to any Committee described in this Section.

(d) Notice. Each Standing Committee and the National Convention Selection Committee in presidential years shall post its report on the Party website at least 30 days prior to a State Convention.

(e) Change of Residence. Except as provided in Section 6-507(b), a member who no longer resides in the district from which he or she was appointed shall be replaced by a new member appointed by the District Chair and shall serve for the remainder of the term of the former member.

(f) Meetings. Committee meetings may be called by its Chair or one-third of its members.

(g) Quorum. Twenty-five percent of the members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.

7-601 The Arbitration Committee.

(a) The Committee. There shall be an Arbitration Committee responsible for resolving disputes among different Members or elements of the Party.

(b) Membership. The Committee shall be comprised of the Congressional District Chairs.

(c) Assignment. Whenever a matter within the Committee’s jurisdiction is referred to the Committee or otherwise brought to its attention, the matter shall be assigned to a subcommittee consisting of three members of the Committee, as chosen by the State Chair. A Committee member shall have the duty to disclose if he or she is a party to or would be affected by the resolution of the matter and, if so, shall be ineligible to be selected as a member of the subcommittee.

(d) Supporting Roles. The State Secretary or Assistant State Secretary shall act as Secretary of the subcommittee and the State General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel shall provide legal advice to the subcommittee. Neither of them shall be voting members of the subcommittee.

(e) Conduct. Except to the extent disclosed in the Committee’s written ruling, all subcommittee members and individuals serving in supporting roles shall keep confidential the details of the matters considered by it.

(f) Procedure. Within 60 days of a matter being assigned to a subcommittee and after providing any affected Member with an opportunity to be heard, the subcommittee shall issue a written ruling resolving the matter in as equitable and least disruptive manner possible. Copies of the ruling shall be distributed to the members of the Operating Committee and to the parties involved in the matter. The subcommittee may also commence a proceeding under Section 9-305 if it determines that disciplinary action is necessary to prevent a violation of federal or state law or this Plan. The State Chair shall not appoint any member of the subcommittee to hear the matter conducted under Section 9-307.

(g) Finality. The decision of the subcommittee of the Arbitration Committee shall be final.

7-602 The Finance Committee.

(a) Members. The Finance Committee shall consist of the State Finance Chair, the State Chair, and the Chairs of the Congressional District Finance Committees. The State Finance Chair shall preside over the meetings of the Committee.

(b) Mission. The Committee shall develop and implement a united fundraising effort to finance the general election campaigns and the business of the Party.

(c) Prohibition. Neither the Committee or any of its members shall raise or collect funds for the benefit of any candidate running in a contested Republican primary.

7-603 The Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee shall conduct an annual review of the financial records of the State Party and shall report the results of its review and any recommendations to the Operating Committee. The Committee shall conduct a full audit at least once every four years.

8-101 Call of Convention.

In accordance with Sections 3-301 and 4-402, upon 10 days prior notice but no later than March 1st of each year, the County Chair shall call an annual Convention to be held after February 14th and before April 1st at a suitable location within the county, at least 10 days prior to the scheduled District Convention or Conventions in which Delegates from the County Party are entitled to participate. At the same time the Chair shall give notice of the Convention (i) to all Precinct Committee members and (ii) by Public Notice to the Members of the County Party. If the County Chair fails to issue the call in a timely manner, the Vice Chair shall do so. Whoever calls the Convention shall notify the Chairs of the Congressional Districts within the county and the State Executive Director of its date, time, and location. If the Convention is not called by March 1st, the Chair of the Congressional District having the greatest number of registered Republicans within the county may call the Convention and may designate someone to chair the Convention and appoint the committees described in Section 8-102.

8-102 Convention Officers and Committees.

(a) Officers. The County Chair shall appoint (i) the Chair of the Convention, who may be the County Chair, and (ii) the Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-at-Arms. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Convention.

(b) Credentials. At or about the time of the call for the County Convention, the County Chair shall nominate a Credentials Committee consisting of a minimum of three Members. In addition to the other duties imposed upon the Committee and its Chair, the Committee shall determine the eligibility of each Member elected to serve as a Delegate or Alternate to the County Convention.

(1) Seating. The Committee shall recommend the seating of those Delegates and, to the extent Delegates are not present or qualified, those Alternates elected at the Annual Precinct Meeting, who are not successfully challenged.

(2) Unrepresented Precinct. If no Member is elected as a Delegate to the County Convention from a precinct, then those Members attending the County Convention from that precinct shall be invited on to the convention floor and may collectively cast one vote at the Convention.

(c) Rules. The County Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Rules Committee. The Committee shall propose rules that are consistent with this Plan and that will facilitate a fair, open, and efficient County Convention. If the county lies within more than one congressional district, the Committee shall prepare rules governing the election of Delegates and Alternates to each Congressional District Convention.

(d) Resolutions. The County Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Resolutions Committee. The Committee may propose to the County Convention resolutions suggested by members of the Committee or any other Member. Resolutions inconsistent with this Plan, containing personal attacks, or considered tasteless by the Committee shall not be submitted to the Convention.

(e) Plan of Organization. The County Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Plan of Organization Committee. The Committee may propose to the County Convention a County Plan of Organization or amendments to an existing Plan.

(f) Approval. The reports of the Convention Committees may be amended by, and shall be subject to the approval of, the County Convention.

8-103 Elections.

In every odd-numbered year, the County Convention shall conduct the elections set forth in this Section. Only those Members who were qualified to participate in the Annual Precinct Meetings and who may run for a position under Section 1-204 of this Plan are eligible for election.

(a) Officers. The Convention shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

(b) Committee Members. The Convention shall elect five County Executive Committee members.

(c) Additional Officers and Members. If the County Plan of Organization so provides, the Convention shall elect additional Officers and Executive Committee members.

(d) State Convention Delegation. The County Convention may elect to the State Convention (i) one Delegate, (ii) one Delegate for each Member residing in the county who currently serves as an elected member of the North Carolina General Assembly or holds an elected statewide or national office, plus (iii) a number of Delegates equal to one Delegate for every 250 Members, rounded to the nearest multiple of 250, registered in the county as of January 31st of the year of the Convention. An equal number of Alternates may be elected to the State Convention. No Alternates shall be elected until all Delegate slots are filled.

(e) Congressional District Delegations. With respect to each congressional district within the county, the Delegates to the County Convention residing in the district shall elect to the Congressional District Convention (i) one Delegate, (ii) one Delegate for each Member residing in both the county and district who currently serves as an elected member of the North Carolina General Assembly or holds an elected statewide or national office, plus (iii) a number of Delegates equal to one Delegate for every 250 Members, rounded to the nearest multiple of 250, registered in both the county and district as of January 31st of the year of the Convention. An equal number of Alternates may be elected to the Congressional District Convention. No Alternates shall be elected until all Delegate slots are filled.

(f) No Post-adjournment Elections. No one may be elected as a Delegate or Alternate to the State or a Congressional District Convention following the adjournment of the County Convention, nor shall the Convention be recessed solely for the purpose of extending the time to elect Delegates and Alternates.

8-104 Compliance.

The appropriate Officers shall take the following actions as soon as practicable after the Convention.

(a) Proceedings. The Secretary’s record of the proceedings of the Convention shall be reviewed, corrected if necessary, and approved by the County Chair, Convention Chair, County Secretary, and the Chair of the Credentials Committee.

(b) Documents. Within 10 days after the adjournment of the Convention, the County Secretary shall forward to all Chairs of the Congressional Districts within the county and to the State Party a list of the Precinct and County Officers, a list of the Delegates and Alternates elected to the State and District Conventions, and either (i) a copy of the County Plan of Organization as adopted or amended by the Convention, or (ii) a copy of any amendments to the Model County Plan if adopted by the County, or (iii) a statement that the existing Plan was not changed, or (iv) a statement that the County is governed by this Plan or the unamended Model County Plan.

(c) Fee. The County Party shall forward to the State Party any fee assessed by the State Party to defray the cost of communications with the Delegates and Alternates elected to the State Convention. The County Plan of Organization may permit the County Party to recover this fee from the Delegates and Alternates to the State Convention.

8-105 Convention Fee.

The County Party may charge the Delegates and Alternates attending the County Convention a reasonable fee, as determined by the County Executive Committee, to defray the costs of the Convention.

8-201 Call of Convention.

The District Chair shall call an annual Convention to be held at a suitable location within the district, during the month of April, at least 20 days prior to the scheduled State Convention. The Chair shall give at least 30 days’ prior notice of the time and place of the Convention to all County Chairs within the district. In order to ensure compliance with the rules of the Republican National Committee, the District Chair and State Chair shall jointly issue the Convention call for the year in which the National Convention is held and shall cause a notice of the Convention to be posted on the District Party’s website not fewer than 30 days prior to the Convention.

8-202 Convention Officers and Committees.

(a) Officers. The District Chair shall appoint (i) the Chair of the Convention, who may be the District Chair, and (ii) the Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-at-Arms. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Convention.

(b) Credentials. Simultaneously with the call for the District Convention, the District Chair shall appoint a Credentials Committee consisting of a minimum of three Members. The Committee shall determine the eligibility of each Member elected to serve as a Delegate or Alternate to the District Convention.

(c) Rules. The District Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Rules Committee. The Committee shall propose rules to the District Convention that are consistent with this Plan and that will facilitate a fair, open, and efficient Convention. In any event, in a presidential election year, the District Convention shall comply with any rules related to the election of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention as required by the National Convention Selection Committee.

(d) Resolutions. The District Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Resolutions Committee. The Committee may propose to the District Convention resolutions suggested by members of the Committee, by any other Member, or adopted by a County Convention within the district. Resolutions inconsistent with this Plan, containing personal attacks, or considered tasteless by the Committee shall not be submitted to the Convention.

(e) Plan of Organization. The District Chair may, but is not required to, appoint a Plan of Organization Committee. The Committee may propose to the District Convention a District Plan of Organization or amendments to an existing Plan.

(f) Approval. Except for the Rules relating to the election of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention and the election of the Presidential Elector, the reports of the Convention Committees may be amended by, and shall be subject to the approval of, the District Convention.

8-203 Elections.

(a) Officers and Weighted Voting. In every odd-numbered year, the District Convention shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer and any additional Officers or Committee members provided for in the District Plan of Organization. Only those Members who were qualified to participate in the Annual Precinct Meetings and who may run for a position under Section 1-204 of this Plan are eligible for election. The votes shall be cast by County and shall be prorated among the candidates who receive votes from the County in accordance with the number of delegates who were authorized to attend the Convention from the County. The method of prorating shall make the total votes cast by the county delegates in attendance and voting, equal to the number of authorized delegates for that county. The provisions of this subsection shall also apply to the elections required to be held in an even-numbered year under Section 6-506(c).

(b) At Large Committee Members. Each Congressional District Convention held in an odd-numbered year shall elect one At Large Committee member plus a number of additional At Large Committee members, rounded to the nearest whole number, equal to (i) the sum of all Republicans registered in the District on January 31st of that year divided by (ii) the greater of 8,000 or the sum of all Republicans registered in the state on that date divided by 286. The State Party staff shall notify each District Chair of the number of At Large Committee members allocated to the District in accordance with this subsection.

(c) Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention. Subject to the Rules of the Republican Party as adopted by the most recent Republican National Convention and as may be amended by the Republican National Committee, the District Convention held in a presidential election year shall elect three Delegates, three Alternates, and two replacement Alternates to the Republican National Convention. The Alternates and replacement Alternates shall be listed in the order by which they will replace Delegates who cannot serve. All Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates are subject to the rules contained in Section 8-401. As a condition of election, all Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates must execute a Delegate Pledge, the original of which must be submitted to the National Convention Selection Committee within 10 days of the adjournment of the District Convention.

(d) Presidential Elector. In every presidential election year, the District Convention shall nominate Members to serve as a Presidential Elector and as a replacement Elector if the Republican candidate for President receives a plurality of the votes cast statewide for that office in the general election. No one shall be nominated as an Elector who is prohibited from holding that office under the Constitution of the United States or who is prohibited from or penalized for holding that office under the Constitution of North Carolina or North Carolina law.

8-204 Compliance.

The appropriate Officers shall take the following actions as soon as practicable after the District Convention.

(a) Proceedings. The Convention Secretary’s record of the proceedings of the Convention shall be reviewed, corrected if necessary, and approved by the District Chair, Convention Chair, District Secretary, and the Chair of the Credentials Committee.

(b) Documents. The District Chair and Secretary shall certify and forward to the State Party a list of the Officers and Committee members elected at the District Convention. They shall also certify and forward to both the State Party and the National Convention Selection Committee (i) a list of the Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates to the National Convention, showing the order in which Alternates and replacement Alternates shall replace a Delegate or Alternate who cannot serve, and (ii) the names of the Presidential Elector and replacement Elector nominees. Forms supplied by the National Convention Selection Committee shall be used for this purpose.

8-205 Convention Fee.

The District Party may charge the Delegates and Alternates attending the District Convention a reasonable fee, as determined by the District Executive Committee, to defray the costs of the Convention.

8-301 Call of Convention.

The State Chair shall call an annual Convention to be held at a suitable location within the state, during the month of May or the first two weeks of June, and, in a presidential election year, at least 45 days prior to the scheduled National Convention. At the same time, the Chair shall give at least 60 days’ prior notice of the time and place of the Convention to all members of the State Executive Committee and shall cause a notice of the Convention to be posted on the State Party’s website.

8-302 Convention Officers and Committees.

(a) Officers. The State Chair shall appoint (i) the Chair of the Convention, who may be the State Chair, and (ii) the Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-at-Arms. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of the Convention.

(b) Committee Reports. The business of the Convention shall include the consideration of the reports of each of the Standing Committees. Any portion of the Platform Committee report or the Resolutions Committee report which the State Convention fails to consider may be adopted as presented in the report by the State Executive Committee at its meeting held in conjunction with the State Convention.

(c) National Convention. In a presidential election year, the National Convention Selection Committee shall issue a report to the Convention, nominating a slate of Delegates in a number which, when added to the State Chair, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, and the Delegates elected at the District Conventions, shall equal the number of Delegates allocated to the state under the rules of the Republican National Committee. The slate shall also include (i) a number of Alternates equal to two fewer than the number of Delegates and (ii) five replacement Alternates, who shall be listed in the order by which they will replace Delegates and Alternates elected by the State Convention who are unable to serve. There shall be no alternates for the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman. All Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates are subject to the rules contained in Section 8-401.

(d) Presidential Electors. The National Convention Selection Committee shall also nominate two Presidential Electors-at-large and two replacement Presidential Electors-at-large. No one shall be nominated as an elector, however, who is prohibited from holding that office under the Constitution of the United States or who is prohibited from or penalized for holding that office under the Constitution of North Carolina or North Carolina law.

8-303 Amendments to Committee Reports.

(a) In General. The Delegates to the State Convention may amend the report of the Credentials Committee in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section. The Delegates to the State Convention may amend the reports of the Rules, Platform, Resolutions, and Plan of Organization Committees in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section.

(b) Procedure to Amend the Report of the Credentials Committee.

(1) Challenges. After the Credentials Committee report is posted on the Party’s website and prior to the convening of the State Convention, the position of (i) anyone included on the list of Delegates or Alternates or (ii) anyone omitted from the list of Delegates or Alternates because of a clerical or administrative error may be challenged by written notice to the Chair of the Committee. The notice shall set forth in detail the reasons for the challenge. The Committee shall conduct an appropriate investigation, which shall include giving the challenged individual an opportunity to be heard and, if possible, interviewing his or her County Chair and Credentials Committee Chair, after which it may reject the challenge or amend its report by recommending to the Convention that (i) the listed individual be excluded from, or (ii) the omitted individual be included in, the list of Delegates or Alternates.

(2) Committee Reports. The Committee shall report at each session of the Convention

(i) the number of Delegates who were duly elected by each County, who have registered for the Convention, and who the Committee recommends to be seated; (ii) the total number of Delegates checked in for the Convention as of the scheduled time of the Convention session; (iii) the names and counties of Alternates who have checked in and who the Committee recommends to replace Delegates who did not register for the Convention, and; (iv), for the purpose of determining the existence of a quorum, the total number of Delegates who are entitled to be on the floor of the Convention at the beginning of the session. The Committee shall recommend to the Convention a resolution of all issues raised by a County delegation claiming to have more Delegates on the floor than the number reported by the Committee at any business session of the Convention at which paper ballots will be used.

(3) Amendments. After the Credentials Committee report is presented to the Convention, anyone who is listed in the report as a Delegate can move to amend the report. The amendment, however, shall not be considered by the Convention unless the Delegates by a two-thirds vote agree to take it up. If the Convention agrees to consider the motion, it shall be subject to debate, and may be adopted, in accordance with the Convention Rules.

(c) Procedure to Amend a Report of the Rules, Platform, Resolutions, or Plan of Organization Committee.

(1) Notice. At least 15 days prior to the convening of the State Convention, any Member who is listed as a Delegate or Alternate in the Credentials Committee report may notify in writing the Chair of the Rules, Platform, Resolutions, or Plan of Organization Committees, as the case may be, that he or she intends to move the consideration of an amendment to that Committee’s report. The notice shall include the text of the proposed amendment.

(2) Committee’s Duties. The Chair of the Committee so notified may convene a meeting of the Committee to consider the proposed amendment. That Committee may (i) reject the proposed amendment in its entirety or (ii), notwithstanding the deadline contained in Section 7-507(d), amend its Convention report by adopting the proposed amendment or a similarly worded amendment. The Chair will report to the Convention any amendments the Committee has made to its report in accordance with this paragraph.

(3) Consideration. Any Delegate may move the adoption of an amendment of which the Committee was notified as provided in paragraph (1) but which was not adopted in accordance with paragraph (2). The amendment, however, shall not be considered by the Convention unless the Delegates by a two-thirds vote agree to take it up. The question of whether to consider a motion to amend shall not be subject to debate.

(4) Debate and Vote. If the Convention agrees to consider the motion, it shall be subject to debate, and may be adopted, in accordance with the Convention Rules.

8-304 Elections.

(a) Officers and Weighted Voting. In every odd-numbered year, the State Convention shall elect from the Delegates attending the Convention a State Chair and Vice Chair. The votes shall be cast by County and shall be prorated among the candidates who receive votes from the County in accordance with the number of delegates who were authorized to attend the Convention from the County. The method of prorating shall make the total votes cast by the county delegates in attendance and voting, equal to the number of authorized delegates for that county. In a presidential election year, the State Chair shall also serve as a Delegate to the National Convention.

(b) National Offices. In a presidential election year, the State Convention shall elect from the Delegates attending the Convention a National Committeeman and a National Committeewoman who shall serve for a term of four years or until their successors are elected. The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall also serve as Delegates to the National Convention.

(c) National Convention. In addition to the slate nominated by the National Convention Selection Committee, the Delegates to the State Convention may nominate full slates of Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates to the National Convention provided that no one is listed on more than one slate. The State Convention shall elect one of the nominated slates. As a condition of election, all Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates must execute a Delegate Pledge, the original of which must be submitted to the Committee within 10 days following the adjournment of the State Convention.

(d) Presidential Electors. In addition to the slate nominated by the National Convention Selection Committee, the Delegates to the State Convention may nominate full slates of presidential electors-at-large and replacement electors-at-large provided that no one is listed on more than one slate. The State Convention shall elect one of the nominated slates.

8-305 Record of Proceedings.

As soon as practicable after the State Convention, the Convention Secretary’s record of the proceedings of the Convention shall be reviewed, corrected if necessary, and approved by the State Chair, Convention Chair, State Secretary, and the Chair of the Credentials Committee.

8-306 Convention Fee.

The State Party may charge the Delegates and Alternates attending the State Convention a reasonable fee, as determined by the Operating Committee, to defray the costs of the Convention.

8-401 Pledged Delegates.

Notwithstanding their personal views, the Delegates to the National Convention shall be bound by the results of the North Carolina presidential preference primary and shall sign pledges requiring their votes to be cast as follows for the first and second ballots at the Convention.

(a) Congressional Districts.

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if in a congressional district one candidate receives more than two-thirds of the votes cast in the presidential preference primary, that candidate shall be awarded the votes of all three Delegates from that district.

(2) If, however, the rules of the Republican National Committee require a proportional allocation of Delegates from a congressional district or if (i) the presidential candidate having the highest number of votes within the district receives two-thirds or fewer of the votes cast in the district and (ii) the candidate having the next highest number of votes receives more than one-fifth of the votes, the winning candidate shall be awarded the votes of two Delegates from that district and the runner-up shall be awarded the vote of one Delegate. But if the runner-up receives one-fifth or fewer of the votes cast, the winning candidate shall be awarded the votes of all three Delegates from that district.

(3) If no candidate receives more than one-fifth of the votes cast, the candidates receiving the three highest number of votes shall each be awarded the vote of one Delegate from the district.

(b) At-Large Delegates.

(1) If the rules of the Republican National Committee so permit, the votes of the State Chair, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, and all other at-large Delegates shall be cast for the candidate receiving the most votes in the presidential preference primary.

(2) If those rules require the votes of the at-large Delegates to be cast proportionately, the votes of those Delegates shall be divided among those candidates receiving more than one-fifth of the total vote in the presidential preference primary and awarded to them in whole numbers on a pro-rata basis.

(c) Delegate Pledges. The National Convention Selection Committee shall assign to each Delegate the presidential candidate for whom the Delegate is to vote during the first two ballots at the National Convention and the Delegates shall execute a Delegate Pledge to that effect as a condition of their election as Delegates. Alternates and replacement Alternates shall sign similar Pledges indicating how their votes shall be determined if they succeed to Delegate status.

(d) Release of Pledges. The Delegates pledged to any presidential candidate who releases his or her Delegates shall be free to vote for any candidate nominated for president at the National Convention. If no nominee is selected after the second ballot, the North Carolina delegation shall be released from their pledges, but if, however, the delegation meets and a majority agrees to vote for a single nominee, all Delegates shall cast their votes for that nominee.

(e) Vice Presidential Nomination. If the Republican nominee for President selects a candidate to run for Vice President, the North Carolina delegation shall vote for that candidate, otherwise the Delegates shall vote as a majority of the delegation agrees, otherwise the Delegates shall vote as they individually decide.

8-402 Duties of the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee shall call a meeting prior to September 1st of the year prior to the National Convention to adopt rules relating to preparing and receiving application forms, preparing Delegate Pledge forms, and other forms appropriate for the selection of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention. The Committee shall submit the rules and forms to the Operating Committee for approval or amendments at that Committee’s meeting held prior to October 1st, after which it shall post a notice on the Party website informing the Members of the rules, applications, and forms required for election as a Delegate, Alternate, or replacement Alternate. In addition, the Committee shall select a slate of at-large Delegates, Alternates, and replacement Alternates as described in Section 8-302(c) which it will set forth in the report required to be posted on the Party’s website by Section 7-507(d).

8-403 Administrative Matters.

(a) Delegate Fee. The Party may assess a fee to any Delegate or Alternate attending the National Convention for the purpose of defraying the cost of delegation events. Anyone not paying the fee shall be permitted to participate fully in the business of the Convention but not those events for which the fee has been assessed.

(b) Vacancy. If for any reason, a Delegate’s position becomes vacant and there is no available Alternate or replacement Alternate to fill that vacancy, the State Chair shall designate someone to fill that position.

9-101 Term of Office.

The term of office of each County, Congressional District, and State Officer and Committee member, who was elected at a Convention called under this Plan shall commence upon the adjournment of that Convention and, unless sooner becoming ineligible, the term of office of each of them and any Member who was appointed to complete the term of someone so elected, shall end upon the adjournment of the same Convention held in the next odd-numbered year. Failure to elect a successor for any office shall result in a vacancy for that office. This provision, however, shall not apply to the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, whose terms shall end upon the adjournment of the State Convention held in a presidential election year or, if later, when their successors are elected.

9-102 Multiple Vice Chairs or Vice Presidents.

If a County or Congressional District Plan of Organization provides for the election of more than one Vice Chair, one of them shall be designated by the Convention electing them as the First Vice Chair and he or she shall be deemed to be the County or District Vice Chair wherever reference is made to that Office in this Plan. For purposes of Sections 7-203, if the governing instrument of an Affiliated Republican Organization provides for more than one Vice Chair or Vice President, the Organization shall designate one of them to serve as the substitute voting member of the Operating Committee.

9-103 Resolutions of Censure.

(a) In General. A County, Congressional District, or State Executive Committee may adopt a resolution of censure expressing disapproval of the actions of anyone who is not a member of the Republican Party.

(b) Censure of Actions of a Republican. A resolution of censure may be adopted by two-thirds of the members present and voting at an Executive Committee meeting with respect to the actions of a member of the Republican Party including the actions of an office holder, provided that all members of that Committee can vote for the office which that individual holds.

(c) Prohibited Censures. An Executive Committee shall not adopt a resolution of censure that is prohibited under Section 9-402.

9-104 Transfer of Party Property upon End of Term.

An Officer or other Committee member possessing tangible or intangible Party property shall upon the end of his or her term of office promptly transfer that property, including access and control over any contact lists, internet sites, Party related data, electronic marketing media, and social media accounts, to his or her successor. Failure to do so within 30 days will be treated as grounds for discipline under clause

(iv) of Section 9-303 and result in the ineligibility to hold Party Office under Section 9-308.

9-105 Mandatory Training of Treasurers.

Unless already in compliance, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer of any Party organized under this Plan must successfully complete the mandatory compliance training provided by the North Carolina Board of Elections within 60 days after being elected or appointed.

9-106 Financial Responsibilities and Prohibitions.

An Officer, Committee member, or staff employee receiving or disbursing funds shall maintain and make available accurate and detailed records of those transactions to the Officer or Committee responsible for overseeing those receipts or disbursements. No Officer, Committee member, or staff employee shall borrow funds on behalf of the Party or make unauthorized expenditures of Party funds.

9-107 Credentials Committee Members.

No member of a Credentials Committee shall be eligible for election as a Party Officer at the Convention for which the Credentials Committee serves, nor shall any Credentials Committee member publicly support anyone seeking office at that Convention.

9-108 Vacancies.

(a) In General. If a County or District Officer or Executive Committee member, shall die, resign, become unable to act, be removed, or otherwise become ineligible to serve, his or her office or position shall be filled in accordance with this Section.

(b) Chair. If the Chair’s office becomes vacant other than by reason of Congressional redistricting, the County or District Vice Chair shall call a meeting of the Committee to be held within 60 days after the vacancy for the purpose of electing a new Chair. The notice of the meeting shall announce the vacancy and that an election to fill the vacancy will be held at the meeting. During the interim, the Vice Chair shall act as temporary Chair. If the Vice Chair fails to call the meeting, the meeting may be called by petition of one-third of the Executive Committee members.

(c) Other Officers. If the office of an elected Officer, other than the Chair, becomes vacant, the Chair shall call a meeting of the Committee to be held within 60 days after the vacancy for the purpose of electing a new Officer. During the interim, the Chair shall appoint a Member to temporarily fill the vacated office.

(d) Other Committee Members. If the position of an elected member of a County or District Executive Committee, other than an Officer described in subsections (b) and (c) above, becomes vacant, the remaining members of the Committee shall fill the vacancy at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

(e) Successor’s Term and Description. Anyone elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of his or her predecessor’s term and, if the predecessor was elected at a Convention, shall be included wherever reference is made in this Plan to an Officer or Committee member elected at a Convention.

9-109 Authority to Remove.

(a) Appointees. A Member appointed to a position by a Precinct, County, District, or the State Chair shall serve at the pleasure of that Chair.

(b) Nominees. Except as provided in subsection (c), a Member nominated by a County, District or State Chair to a position subject to confirmation or rejection by an Executive Committee shall serve at the pleasure of that Committee.

(c) Electees. An Officer or other Executive Committee member elected to that position at a Convention or by the Executive Committee on which he or she serves may be removed only in accordance with the provisions of Section 9-301 et seq.

9-201 Application.

Sections 9-202 through 9-210 apply to all Conventions and to the meetings of all elected and appointed Committees formed under this Plan.

9-202 Attendance.

(a) Members Not Present. Subject to his or her compliance with the procedures described in Section 9-203(b), no Member shall be required to attend the Annual Precinct Meeting or Convention in order to be elected as a Party Officer, Committee member, or Delegate or Alternate at that Meeting or Convention.

(b) Registration Requirements. A County or Congressional District Party may adopt a method of pre-registering Delegates and Alternates to a Convention but shall not prohibit any Member from registering on the day of that Convention.

9-203 Certain Precinct and County Elections.

(a) Delegates and Alternates. Delegate and Alternate slots shall be filled first by those eligible Members who are in attendance at the Annual Precinct Meeting or County Convention. If any Delegate or Alternate slots remain unfilled after the election of those who are in attendance at the Annual Precinct Meeting or Convention, then eligible Members who are not in attendance and who have nominated themselves in accordance with the procedure set forth in subsection (b) may be elected to fill those slots. No one shall be elected as an Alternate, however, until all the Delegate slots are filled. No one shall be elected as a Delegate or Alternate following the adjournment of an Annual Precinct Meeting or County Convention. A Credentials Committee, however, may correct at any time clerical or administrative errors in the list of Delegates and Alternates.

(b) Procedure. Each County Executive Committee shall adopt a procedure that allows an eligible Member who is not in attendance at the Annual Precinct Meeting or County Convention to nominate himself or herself for election as an Officer, Committee member, Delegate or Alternate at that Meeting or Convention. The procedure shall require that a paper writing or email from the Member be in the hands of a Member or Members designated by the County Chair prior to the convening of the Annual Precinct Meeting or in the hands of the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the County Convention, as the case may be. That paper writing or email shall include the individual’s full legal name, residential address, phone number, and email address. The County Chair shall describe this procedure in the notice of the Convention.

(c) Absentee Participation. The Party encourages the participation of eligible Members in the affairs of the Party. Accordingly, a County Party shall not (i) require a Member to offer a reason for not attending a Meeting or Convention, (ii) require waivers for those not attending, or (iii) otherwise unduly burden a Member’s ability to comply with subsection (b).

9-204 Convention Rules.

The Rules adopted by a State Convention may, if they so state, govern until new Rules are adopted by a subsequent State Convention.

9-205 Voting Limitation.

Anyone serving as a voting member of a Committee in more than one capacity shall have only one vote.

9-206 Electronic Meetings.

All Executive Committee meetings required by this Plan and Conventions shall be in-person events unless, (i) as a result of a governmental declaration of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance, the event can only take place electronically and (ii) the Chair responsible for conducting the meeting or calling the Convention takes reasonable steps to notify the Members who would otherwise be in attendance. Any electronic meeting must permit all participants to hear the speaker who has the floor. Further, all eligible Members must be accorded the right to participate fully in the meeting and Convention to the same extent as they could at an in-person meeting, even if the pace of the meeting is slowed. In order to ensure accurate voting, any matter that does not obtain unanimous consent, must be subject to a roll-call vote, vote by reliable software, or any other means in which the participants have confidence.

9-207 Postponed Meetings.

When it becomes necessary to cancel an Annual Precinct Meeting or Convention, the County, District, or State Chair shall take whatever steps are available to notify the potential participants in the Meeting or Convention and to reschedule the Meeting or Convention, if possible. A County or District Chair shall also promptly notify the State Party of any cancelled and rescheduled Meeting or Convention.

9-208 Action without a Meeting.

Any action with which a Committee under this Plan is authorized to adopt may be taken without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the Committee. The action must be evidenced by one or more documents or email messages describing the action, signed or submitted by the members, included in the Committee’s minutes, and filed with the Committee’s records. The action will be effective when the last member has signed or submitted the document or message.

9-209 Notice of Meetings.

Unless a provision in this Plan contains a different notice requirement, notice must be given at least 10 days prior to the convening of any meeting. The members of a Committee can unanimously waive any notice requirement.

9-210 Proxy Voting.

There shall be no proxy voting at any Committee meeting, Precinct Meeting, or Convention conducted under this Plan. A County Plan may allow a Precinct Vice Chair to vote for the Precinct Chair in his or her absence if the Precinct Chair is a voting member of the County Executive Committee and the Precinct Vice Chair is a non-voting member.

9-301 In General.

Except for a Precinct Officer who may be removed in accordance with Section 3-106, Officers and Executive Committee members may be reprimanded or removed as set forth in Sections 9-302 through 9-309. For purposes of this Plan, a reprimand shall be in writing and shall address the subject matter of the complaint constructively in order to (i) give the respondent an opportunity to correct his or her actions and (ii) notify him or her that failure to do so may result in further disciplinary action, including removal.

9-302 Automatic Removal.

(a) Rule Applicable to All Officers and Committee Members. An Officer or Committee member who (i) switches his or her registration from the Republican Party, or (ii) upon a final judgment has been convicted of a felony, shall be immediately removed from all positions then held under this Plan. Except as provided in Section 6-507(b), an Officer or Committee member who no longer resides in the jurisdiction which he or she represents, shall be immediately removed from that position.

(b) Rule Applicable to Certain Party Officials Seeking Public Office. Except as provided in subsection (c) and this subsection, any County, Congressional District, or State Officer and any member of the Operating Committee who files to run for public office shall be removed from all positions then held under this Plan, effective upon the close of filing for that office. This provision shall not apply, however, to anyone serving as an elected public official at the time he or she is elected or becomes eligible to hold Party office and who seeks reelection to the same office.

(c) Exception for Certain Party Officers. Notwithstanding subsection (b), an Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, suspend the removal of an Officer of the Committee until 30 days after the close of the filing period for the office sought by him or her and, further, rescind the removal if no other Republican files for that office.

(d) Reinstatement. Except for someone permanently ineligible to hold Party Office under Section 1-204(c), anyone automatically removed under this Section will subsequently be permitted to hold a Party position under the circumstances set forth below.

(1) Change in Residence. Anyone removed because of a change in residence is permitted to hold a Party position in any jurisdiction in which he or she is or becomes a Member.

(2) Change of Party or Revocation of the Right to Vote. Anyone removed because of a change in Party or the revocation of his or her voting rights is permitted to hold a Party position after (i) returning to the Republican Party or having his or her voting rights restored and (ii) being a Member for one year.

(3) Candidate for Public Office. Anyone automatically removed under subsection (b) will be permitted to hold a Party position after the primary election in which he or she was a candidate.

9-303 Other Reasons for Reprimand or Removal.

Following a proceeding conducted under Section 9-307, an Officer or other Committee member may be reprimanded or removed for (i) gross inefficiency, (ii) failure without rectification to comply with a significant provision of this Plan or the relevant County or District Plan, (iii) party disloyalty, or (iv) non-compliance with Section 9-104.

9-304 Party Disloyalty Defined.

For purposes of Section 9-303, party disloyalty is the active and meaningful support of a non-Republican candidate running against a Republican candidate in any race.

9-305 Commencement of Proceeding.

(a) Complaint. A disciplinary proceeding against an Officer or other member of an Executive Committee created by this Plan may be commenced as provided in this subsection.

(1) Complaint Against a County or District Executive Committee Member. A Member, as complainant, who has knowledge of the facts constituting one of the grounds for reprimanding or removing an Officer or other member of a County or District Executive Committee may, if qualified under the next sentence, bring an action to reprimand or remove that Officer or Committee member, as respondent, by filing a written complaint with the State Secretary. In order to bring an action, the complainant must be eligible to be elected as a delegate to the County or District Convention at which the position held by the respondent is filled.

(2) Complaint Against a State Executive Committee Member. Fifty or more members of the State Executive Committee, as complainants, who have knowledge of the facts constituting one of the grounds for reprimanding or removing a State Officer or other member of the State Executive Committee who is not also a member of a County or District Executive Committee may bring an action to remove that Officer or Committee member, as respondent, by filing a written complaint with the State Secretary or, if the State Secretary is named as the respondent, with any other State Officer.

(3) Complaint Filed by the Arbitration Committee. As provided in Section 7-601, the Arbitration Committee, as complainant, may commence a proceeding under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection.

(b) Contents of Complaint. The written complaint filed under this Section shall (i) set forth the alleged ground for reprimand or removal and (ii) state the facts on which the allegation is based.

(c) Limitation. A complaint that relies solely on facts occurring more than two years prior to the commencement of the proceeding shall be barred.

(d) Service on Respondent. The complainant or complainants filing the complaint shall simultaneously provide a copy to the respondent.

9-306 Assignment of Matter.

The Officer of the State Party with whom the complaint is filed shall promptly provide copies of the complaint to the members of the Operating Committee.

(a) Complaint Against a County or District Member. Subject to Section 7-601, if the respondent is a member of a County or District Executive Committee, the State Chair shall appoint three impartial District Chairs who do not reside in the same county or district as the respondent to hear the matter and shall notify all members of the Operating Committee of his or her appointments. If the State Chair does not make these appointments within 10 days of his or her receipt of the complaint, the State Vice Chair shall make the appointments.

(b) Complaint Against a State Member. If the respondent is not a member of a County or District Executive Committee but is a member of the State Executive Committee, the Officer of the State Party with whom the complaint is filed shall place the matter on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Operating Committee. If the Operating Committee determines that the facts alleged are sufficient for the complaint to be heard, it shall appoint an Investigative Committee consisting of either three or five impartial members of the State Executive Committee, no more than half of whom are also members of the Operating Committee, to conduct the preliminary proceeding described in Section 9-307(b)(1); otherwise, it shall dismiss the complaint. The respondent shall not participate in the decisions made by the Operating Committee under this subsection.

9-307 Proceedings.

(a) Complaint Against a County or District Member. The assigned District Chairs shall investigate the facts alleged in the complaint; interview all pertinent parties; attempt to resolve the matter without removing the respondent if possible; determine, in their sole discretion, if any alleged noncompliance with a Plan was so significant as to justify the respondent’s removal; and render a written judgment provided to all parties in the matter.

(b) Complaint Against a State Member.

(1) Preliminary Proceeding. The Investigative Committee shall investigate the facts alleged in the complaint; interview all pertinent parties; attempt to resolve the matter without recommending further action if possible; state its opinion whether any alleged noncompliance with the Plan was so significant as to justify the respondent’s removal; and render a written report containing the Committee’s findings and any recommended disposition or penalty to the State Executive Committee. A copy of the report shall be provided to the respondent, the complainants, and the members of the Operating Committee.

(2) Proceeding Before the State Executive Committee. The State Executive Committee shall hear the matter within 60 days following the receipt of the Investigative Committee’s report and the giving of at least 30 days’ notice to the respondent. After considering arguments made by or on behalf of the respondent, the Committee shall render a decision. It may (i) dismiss the complaint or (ii) impose or reduce, but not increase, the penalty recommended by the Investigative Committee.

(c) Due Process. The proceedings under this Section shall be conducted fairly and with respect for the due process rights of the respondent. There shall be no appeal.

9-308 Effect of Removal or Discipline.

There shall be a vacancy in the position of any Officer or Committee member removed under Section 9-302 or 9-307 which shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of this Plan. Anyone removed under Section 9-307 and anyone disciplined for failure to comply with Section 9-104 shall be ineligible to hold Party Office for a period of three years after the date of removal.

9-309 Frivolous Complaint.

If the District Chairs, the Operating Committee, or the State Executive Committee, as the case may be, find at any time that a complaint is groundless, harassing, or frivolous in nature, they may dismiss the complaint and may reprimand the complainant or complainants.

9-401 Contested Primaries.

(a) General Rule. Except as provided in subsection (b), no Party Organization shall issue an endorsement of any candidate running in a contested Republican primary. Neither the Party Organization nor any of its Members may use Party resources for the benefit of any primary candidate unless those resources are equally available to all candidates.

(b) Exception. An Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, (i) endorse an opponent of one or more Opportunistic Candidates, as defined below, provided that there is only one opponent to those candidates in the Republican primary and (ii) withhold recognition, endorsement, and resources from Opportunistic Candidates in both a primary and general election.

(c) Opportunistic Candidate. For purposes of this Section, an Opportunistic Candidate is an individual who was not a registered Republican at all times during the two-year period prior to his or her filing for office or who the Executive Committee, in its sole discretion, finds switched parties in order simply to gain an advantage in the general election or to defeat another Republican candidate in a primary election.

9-402 Censure of an Announced Candidate Prohibited.

Except with respect to an Opportunistic Candidate described in Section 9-401(c), no Committee created under this Plan nor any Party Convention shall censure a Republican who has filed for public office.

9-403 Prohibited Actions.

No County, District, or State Officer, including any Vice Chairs and Assistant Officers, and no member of the Operating Committee (except the members of the North Carolina General Assembly) shall endorse, be employed by or serve on a campaign committee, raise funds for, or otherwise publicly promote the candidacy of anyone running in a contested Republican primary. The prohibited actions set forth in the preceding sentence shall not apply to (i) an Officer who seeks reelection to public office, and (ii) the Officers of an Executive Committee with respect to a candidate whom that Committee has found to be an Opportunistic Candidate under Section 9-401(c).

9-404 Permitted Actions.

A Member whose position is listed in Section 9-403 may contribute financially to the campaign of a candidate running in a contested Republican primary, attend private fundraising events, and may privately make known his or her preference to family members and friends, but not to anyone else. All other Committee members may participate fully in contested primary campaigns provided that they do not identify themselves by any position they hold within the Party and do not utilize the resources of the Party for the benefit of any primary candidate unequally.

9-405 Nonpartisan races.

The County Executive Committee may endorse one or more registered Republicans running in a nonpartisan race, whether for county, school board, or municipal office where the municipality is wholly within a single county, or in a race without a primary election, only after the members of the Committee and the registered Republicans who are candidates seeking the office for which the endorsement is to be made have been notified of the endorsement meeting. The meeting shall be conducted in a manner designed to assure fairness to all potential candidates for the office.

9-501 In General.

The State Chair is authorized to submit to the State Board of Elections the names of Members nominated to serve on the county Boards of Elections.

9-502 Procedure.

The State Chair shall seek nominees for appointment to each county Board of Elections from the County Party by notifying the County Chairs of the opportunity to submit the names of nominees and the deadline for doing so. The County Executive Committee will meet and approve a list of nominees which the County Chair will submit to the State Chair before the deadline. If the State Chair rejects any of the nominees, he or she will notify the County Chair and provide a reason for the rejection. If sufficient time is available, the County Party may designate an additional nominee to replace the rejected nominee. The State Chair shall submit to the State Board of Elections the names of each nominee he or she finds to be acceptable. If a vacancy occurs in a County Board of Elections, the State Chair shall initiate a similar procedure to fill the vacancy.

9-601 Method.

Notices required under this Plan may be sent by U. S. Mail or by a verifiable electronic message. A notice requirement is satisfied whenever a Member has actual notice, even if he or she does not receive notice as provided in the previous sentence.

9-602 Public Notice.

Public Notice shall be given on a Party’s website and, in addition, may be given by other means such as an email marketing platform and traditional media.

10-101 Effective Date.

Except as provided in this ARTICLE, this amended and restated Plan of Organization shall be effective upon the adjournment of the State Convention at which it is approved.

10-102 Terms of Office.

Except as provided in Section 10-104, the enactment of this Plan shall not affect the term of office of anyone serving as an Officer or a Committee member on the Effective Date.

10-103 Removals.

Any proceeding to remove an Officer or Committee Member being conducted at the time of the Effective Date shall be governed by the Plan in effect at the time the proceeding was instituted.

10-104 Removal of a Member Ineligible to Hold a Party Office under Section 1-204(c).

Anyone holding a Party Office, as defined in Section 1-204(a), and who is ineligible to run for, be appointed to, or hold that Office under Section 1-204(c), shall be removed from that Office upon the Effective Date.

10-105 Disputes.

Any dispute before the Arbitration Committee at the time of the Effective Date shall be transferred to the Arbitration Committee for resolution under Section 7-601.

10-106 Transition to a Consistent County or District Plan.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any County or District Plan of Organization in effect at the time of the Effective Date, the appropriate Executive Committee may, on or before December 31st following the Effective Date, (i) revise those provisions of its Plan of Organization that are inconsistent with this Plan,

(ii) elect to be governed by this Plan, or (iii), in the case of a County Party, adopt the Model County Plan of Organization with or without amendments. Until a County or District Executive Committee acts as provided in the previous sentence, that Party shall be governed by this Plan.

10-107 Sunset of Transition Rules.

The Transition Rules contained in this Article shall remain in force until no longer applicable. This Article, however, may be removed from the Plan of Organization published after the adjournment of the State Convention next occurring after the adoption of this Amended Plan of Organization. Members of the 2025-2027 NCGOP Plan of Organization Committee District 1 – Mark Edwards, Nash County District 2 – Charles Dingee, Wake County District 3 – Shelley Flores, Wayne County District 4 – Robert (Bob) Castona, Orange County District 5 – Benjamin (Bernie) Parnell, Rockingham County District 6 – Jon Firebaugh, Guilford County District 7 – Secretary Grant Burchette, New Hanover County District 8 – Vice Chair Dan Barry, Union County District 9 – William (Bill) Scholtes, Moore County District 10 – Michael Owens, Forsyth County District 11 – Valerie Niskanen, Macon County District 12 – Tommy Fuller, Mecklenburg County District 13 – Michael Magnanti, Granville County District 14 – David Guy, Rutherford County At-large – Alton Absher, Forsyth County At-large – Chair Jonathan Fletcher, Gaston County At-large – Merry Guy, Henderson County