North Carolina Democratic Party
Plan of Organization
As Amended Jan 20th, 2007

3.00 CONGRESSIONAL, PROSECUTORIAL, STATE SENATE AND STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS

3.01 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Members. There shall be a congressional district executive committee in each congressional district in North Carolina that shall be composed of:

1. The chair and first vice chair (or elected designee, see Section 3.07) of each county in the congressional district shall serve as voting representatives of their county;
2. The officers of the congressional district executive committee as set forth in Section 3.04;
3. An elected congressional district representative of each state auxiliary organization whose by-laws have been approved by the state executive committee as an ex-officio voting member. The bylaws of each state auxiliary organization shall provide for a method of electing each such representative. State Party Headquarters shall provide the district chair with the names of the designated representative for each state auxiliary organization. Should a county chair or first vice chair be elected as a district representative of a state auxiliary organization, some other member of said state auxiliary organization shall be certified to the congressional district chair as the representative of that state auxiliary organization to the congressional district executive committee;
4. A congressional district chair for minority affairs who shall be appointed by the congressional district chair and who shall serve at the pleasure of the congressional district chair as an ex-officio voting member;
5. The Democratic member of Congress of the district as an ex-officio voting member, and
6. Any elected or appointed officer of the state executive committee residing in the congressional district.

Term of Office. The term of office of the members of the district executive committee shall be for two (2) years and shall expire on the date set for the next succeeding county convention held in an odd-numbered year, or when their successor shall be elected, whichever shall occur first. Newly elected members shall take office immediately upon their election.

Vacancies for Congressional District Executive Committee Members. Vacancies among members of the congressional district executive committee who represent their county on such committee shall be filled at a meeting of the appropriate county executive committee held within thirty (30) days following the creation of the vacancy.

3.02 VOTING ON THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Committee Officers and Ex-Officio Members. The congressional district executive committee officers elected pursuant to Section 6.01 and the ex-officio members of the congressional district executive committee shall be entitled to one vote each, except when voting for the nominating procedures under North Carolina General Statutes, when they shall be non-voting members.

County Representatives. The representatives of a county (or portion thereof) shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons, or major fraction thereof, residing within the county and within the congressional district based upon the last decennial census for all purposes including when voting for the nominating procedures under North Carolina General Statues.

In the event that the representatives of a county should disagree on how their county's votes will be cast, then each shall cast exactly one-half (½) of the votes that their county is entitled to cast.

If only one representative of a county is present at a meeting of the district executive committee and the other representative from that county on the district executive committee has not designated a proxy (see Section 11.05) or such proxy is not present, then such representative shall be entitled to cast all of the votes which the county is entitled to cast.

3.03 DUTIES OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The congressional district executive committee shall perform the duties required by North Carolina General Statutes and such other duties as may be delegated to it by the state chair and/or the state executive committee.

In addition, the members from their respective counties shall perform those duties imposed and specified by North Carolina General Statutes.

3.04 OFFICERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Elected Officers. The congressional district executive committee shall have as officers a chair, three (3) vice chairs, a secretary and a treasurer elected pursuant to Section 6.01. The first vice chair must be of the opposite gender of the chair. Where there are sufficient counties in a district, no two (2) officers shall live within the same county except for the chair and secretary. Among the chair and three vice chair offices, one of these must be filled by a person of a racial or ethnic minority which constitutes at least twenty percent (20%) of the registered Democrats in that district and one of these offices must be filled by a person thirty-six (36) years of age or younger. Officers of a congressional district executive committee shall be active Democrats residing within the congressional district. Gender, racial or ethnic, and age requirements need not be followed if filling a vacancy for an unexpired term, but shall be adhered to when the office is filled for a full term.

Election to District Executive Committee Office. Should a representative of a county to the congressional district executive committee be elected an officer of the congressional district executive committee, he or she automatically vacates their position as a representative of their county to the district executive committee and the vacancy shall be filled pursuant to this Plan of Organization.

Election to State Executive Committee Office. Should any congressional district officer be elected as an officer of the state executive committee, he or she automatically vacates their congressional district office.

Vacancy and Succession for Congressional District Executive Committee Officers. Vacancies occurring among the officers of the congressional district executive committee shall be filled within thirty (30) days following the creation of the vacancy. The congressional district executive committee chair shall call a meeting of the congressional district executive committee to fill that vacancy and any other vacancies which might be caused by the action of such committee in filling the vacancy. If, for any reason, there should occur a vacancy in the chair of the congressional district executive committee, the first vice chair, the second vice chair, the third vice chair, the secretary or the treasurer, in that order, shall preside and in the absence of all of the foregoing officers, any member of the congressional district executive committee may preside.

Term of Office. The term of office of the officers of the district executive committee shall be for two (2) years and shall expire on the date set for the next succeeding district convention held in an odd-numbered year, or when their successor shall be elected, whichever shall occur first. Newly elected officers shall take office immediately upon their election.

Removal. Officers and members of the district executive committee may be removed in accordance with Section 10.00.

3.05 DUTIES OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OFFICERS

Chair. The duties of the congressional district chair shall include:

1. Preside at district executive committee meetings and district conventions;
2. Draft, in consultation with the district executive committee, a strategic plan outlining reasonable political goals for the district;
3. Execute the strategic plan approved by the district executive committee;
4. Designate the exact time and place, consistent with the date set by the state chair, at which the district convention is to be held. Said designation to be given to the state chair and county chairs within the district at least thirty (30) days prior to the said district convention;
5. Assist the state chair and state party staff in the dissemination of party information;
6. Serve as the delegate selection chair responsible for carrying out the duties specified in the Delegate Selection Plan adopted by the state executive committee relating to the election of delegates to the Democratic National Convention;
7. Appoint committees as may be required in the execution of these duties;
8. Attend meetings of the state executive council and the state executive committee;
9. Serve as the spokesperson for the district executive committee;
10. Serve as the liaison between the district executive committee and the state party officers and staff;
11. Represent the district at party and non-party meetings and functions;
12. Carry out other duties as may be assigned by this Plan or Organization or by the district or state executive committees;
13. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.
14. Serve on Committee for Distribution of State Campaign Fund (tax check-off) as provided for in Section 8.03.

First Vice Chair. The duties of the congressional district first vice chair shall include:

1. Preside at district executive committee meetings and district conventions in the absence of the chair;
2. Plan and organize district executive committee meetings and district conventions;
3. Serve as the coordinator of all district-wide party organizing efforts, in consultation with other officers and consistent with the strategic plan approved by the district executive committee;
4. Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the district executive committee;
5. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.

Second Vice Chair. The duties of the congressional district second vice chair shall include:

1. Plan and organize training sessions for district executive committee members and other interested active Democrats;
2. Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the district executive committee;
3. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.

Third Vice Chair. The duties of the congressional district third vice chair shall include:

1. Serve as the publicity chair for the district executive committee utilizing local newspapers, newsletters, etc. to illuminate policy issues and announce political activities and/or accomplishments to voters in the district;
2. Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the district executive committee;
3. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.

Secretary. The duties of the congressional district secretary shall include:

1. Keep and maintain in good order all records of the district executive committee;
2. Issue all meeting notices in writing and consistent with the requirements of this Plan of Organization;
3. Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the district executive committee;
4. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.

Treasurer. The duties of the congressional district treasurer shall include:

1. Maintain the district executive committee treasury at an insured commercial bank;
2. Maintain all records required by law or by the district executive committee of contributions received and disbursements made;
3. Prepare and file any reports as may be required by law or by the district executive committee;
4. Transmit all records pertaining to the office to successor within ten (10) days of vacating office.

Congressional District Chair for Minority Affairs. The congressional district chair for minority affairs shall serve as a liaison between the party and the minority communities in that district and shall encourage full participation and representation in all party affairs.

3.06 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

When and Where Held. An annual congressional district executive committee meeting shall be held within the geographical boundaries of each congressional district each year. The state chair, after consulting with the congressional district chairs, shall designate the date on which such congressional district executive committee meetings shall be held. The exact location and time of the congressional district executive committee meetings shall be determined by the congressional district chair.

Called Meetings. The congressional district chair shall issue a call for a meeting of the congressional district executive committee periodically, but not less than once every six (6) months. Additional meetings may be called in accordance with Section 11.01.

When Congressional District Executive Committee is not in Session. When the congressional district executive committee is not in session, the officers of the congressional district executive committee shall act in the place of the congressional district executive committee on matters unless this Plan of Organization states that action is to be taken by the entire congressional district executive committee. The chair of the district executive committee is encouraged to include the presidents of chartered auxiliary organizations in such sessions.

3.07 SPLIT COUNTIES

Should a county be divided between two or more congressional districts, the county shall be entitled to two (2) representatives on the congressional district executive committee of each district in which any portion of the county is located. The county chair and first vice chair shall represent the county on the district executive committee in the district in which they reside. The same county convention at which the county officers are elected shall elect the balance of their entire representation on each such district executive committee. However, such representation on the district executive committee must be by active Democrats from such county residing in the congressional district to which they shall be elected, ensuring equal division between men and women. In voting on the balance of such district executive committee representation, only those Democrats present at the county convention, who reside in the congressional district, shall be entitled to vote for and elect their representatives from the county to the congressional district executive committee.

3.08 PROSECUTORIAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Composition. There shall be a prosecutorial district executive committee for each prosecutorial district in the state. It shall be composed of two (2) members from each county in the district except that Section 3.12 shall apply to single county prosecutorial districts. These members shall be elected at their respective county conventions held in even-numbered years.

Vacancies for Prosecutorial District Executive Committee Members. Vacancies among members of the prosecutorial district executive committee who represent their county on such committee shall be filled within thirty (30) days following the creation of the vacancy by the county executive committee representing that portion of the county in the prosecutorial district executive committee.

Voting. The two (2) members shall be entitled to cast, for their county, one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons, or major fraction thereof, residing within the county, based upon the last decennial census. In the event that the two (2) members should disagree on how their county's votes shall be cast, then each member shall cast exactly one-half of the votes which their county is entitled to cast. If only one representative of a county is present at a meeting of the prosecutorial executive committee and the other member from that county has not designated a proxy, (see Section 11.05), or such proxy is not present, then such representative shall be entitled to cast all of the votes which the county is entitled to cast.

Duties. The prosecutorial district executive committee shall perform those duties imposed and specified by North Carolina General Statutes.

Officers. The congressional district chair and the congressional district secretary shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the prosecutorial district executive committee. Where a prosecutorial district lies in more than one (1) congressional district, the state chair shall designate one of the applicable congressional district chairs and secretaries as chair and secretary of the prosecutorial district executive committee.

The congressional district chair shall preside at all meetings of the prosecutorial district executive committee. In filling vacancies of persons nominated for District Attorney, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the appointee to the State Board of Elections and furnish a copy to the state chair.

3.09 STATE SENATORIAL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Composition. There shall be a state senatorial district executive committee for each state senatorial district in the state. It shall be composed of two (2) members from each county in that district except that Section 3.12 shall apply to single county state senatorial districts. These members shall be elected at their respective county conventions held in even-numbered years. In the case where only part of the county is included within a state senatorial district, then in electing the members of the state senatorial district executive committee, only the delegates to the county convention who reside in the state senatorial district may vote in electing the state senatorial district executive committee member, and only these delegates shall be considered as the membership of the convention in determining a quorum. If the county chair does not reside in the district, he or she may preside but shall have no vote.

Vacancies for State Senatorial District Executive Committee Members. Vacancies among members of the state senatorial district executive committee who represent their county on such committee shall be filled within thirty (30) days following the creation of the vacancy by the county executive committee representing that portion of the county in the state senatorial district.

Voting. The two (2) members shall be entitled to cast, for their county, one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons, or major fraction thereof, residing in the county based upon the last decennial census, or in the case where less than the whole county is in the district, one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons, or major fraction thereof, residing in that part of the district within the county based upon the last decennial census. In the event that the two members should disagree on how their county's votes will be cast, then each member shall cast exactly one-half of the votes which their county is entitled to cast. If only one representative of a county is present at a meeting of this committee and the other member has not designated a proxy (see Section 11.05), or such proxy is not present, then such representative shall be entitled to cast all of the votes which the county is entitled to cast.

Duties. The state senatorial district executive committee shall perform those duties imposed and specified by North Carolina General Statutes.

Officers. The congressional district chair and the congressional district secretary shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the state senatorial district executive committee. Where a state senatorial district lies in more than one congressional district, the state chair shall designate one of the applicable congressional district chairs and secretaries as chair and secretary of the state senatorial district executive committee.

The congressional district chair shall preside at all meetings of the state senatorial district executive committee. In filling vacancies of a Senator elected to the General Assembly, the congressional district chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the recommended person to the Governor of the State of North Carolina, State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27601, and furnish a copy to the state chair and the State Board of Elections.

In filling vacancies of persons nominated for Senator of the General Assembly, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the appointee to the State Board of Elections and furnish a copy to the state chair.

3.10 STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Composition. There shall be a state house of representatives district executive committee for each state house of representatives district in the state. It shall be composed of two (2) members from each county in that district except that Section 3.12 shall apply to single county state house of representatives districts. These members shall be elected at their respective county conventions held in even-numbered years. In the case where only part of the county is included within a state house of representatives district, then in electing the members of the state house of representatives district executive committee, only the delegates to the county convention who reside in the state house of representatives district may vote in electing the state house of representatives district committee members, and only these delegates shall be considered as the membership of the convention in determining a quorum. If the county chair does not reside in the district, he or she may preside but shall have no vote.

Vacancies on State House of Representatives District Executive Committee. Vacancies among members of the state house of representatives district executive committee who represent their county on such committee shall be filled within thirty (30) days following the creation of the vacancy by the county executive committee representing that portion of the county in the state house of representatives district executive committee.

Voting. The two (2) members on a state house of representatives district executive committee shall be entitled to cast, for their county, one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons, or major fraction thereof, residing within the county, based upon the last decennial census, or in the case where less than the whole county is in the district, one (1) vote for each three hundred (300) persons or major fraction thereof residing in that part of the district within the county based upon the last decennial census. In the event that the two members should disagree on how their county's votes will be cast, then each member shall cast exactly one-half of the votes which their county is entitled to cast. If only one representative of a county is present at a meeting of this committee and the other member from the county on this committee has not designated a proxy (see Section 11.05), or such proxy is not present, then such representative shall be entitled to cast all of the votes which the county is entitled to cast.

Duties. The state house of representatives district executive committee shall perform those duties imposed and specified by North Carolina General Statues.

Officers. The congressional district chair and congressional district secretary shall be ex-officio, non-voting members of the state house of representatives district executive committee. Where a state house of representatives district lies in more than one congressional district, the state chair shall designate one of the applicable congressional district chairs and secretaries as chair and secretary of the state house of representatives district executive committee.

The congressional district chair shall preside at all meetings of the state house of representatives district executive committee. In filling vacancies of a Representative elected to the General Assembly, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the recommended person to the Governor of the State of North Carolina, State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27601, and furnish a copy to the state chair and the State Board of Elections.

In filling vacancies of persons nominated for Representative of the General Assembly, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the appointee to the State Board of Elections and furnish a copy to the state chair.

3.11 COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS

When North Carolina General Statutes require a political party to recommend or nominate a person to fill a vacancy created in the office of county commissioner, sheriff, register of deeds, coroner, or member of the school board, then the following process shall be used:

Office Elected By Countywide Vote. The members of the county executive committee shall, by majority vote, designate a person as either a recommendation or nominee to fill the vacancy. Each member of the committee in attendance shall vote in accordance with Section 2.02 of this Plan.

Office Elected By District Within County. Only those members of the county executive committee who reside in the district shall be eligible to vote. For the purpose of determining a quorum, those members of the county executive committee eligible to vote shall be considered. If the county chair does not reside in the district, he or she may still preside but shall have no vote. Each member in attendance and eligible to vote shall vote in accordance with Section 2.02 of this Plan.

In filling vacancies of elected officials, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the recommended person to the Chairperson of the Appointing Authority.

3.12 SINGLE COUNTY DISTRICTS

Whole County. Should any prosecutorial, state senatorial, or state house of representatives district be composed of only one county, and includes all of that county, then the county executive committee of said county shall be the prosecutorial, state senatorial or state house of representatives district executive committee for the respective district. (See Sections 3.09, 3.10 and 3.11.) Upon convening, the county executive committee shall resolve itself into the prosecutorial, state senatorial or state house of representatives district executive committee for the respective district; each member in attendance shall have one vote.

Partial County. Should any prosecutorial, state senatorial or state house of representatives district be composed of only one county, but includes less than all of that county, then the county executive committee of said county shall be the prosecutorial, state senatorial or state house of representatives district executive committee for the respective district, but only those county executive members who reside in the district shall be eligible to vote, and for the purpose of determining a quorum, those persons eligible to vote shall be considered as the members of the committee. If the county chair does not reside in the district, he or she may still preside but shall have no vote. Upon convening, the members of the county executive committee who reside in the applicable district shall resolve themselves into the prosecutorial, state senatorial or state house of representatives executive committee for the respective district; each member in attendance shall have one vote.

The county chair shall preside at all meetings of the prosecutorial, state senatorial, and state house of representatives district executive committees. In filling vacancies of elected officials, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the recommended person to the Governor of the State of North Carolina, State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27601, and furnish a copy to the state chair and the State Board of Elections.

In filling vacancies of persons nominated for election, the chair and secretary shall immediately certify the name of the appointee to the State Board of Elections and furnish a copy to the state chair.

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