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

6.00 DISTRICT AND STATE CONVENTIONS

6.01 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

When and Where Held. An annual congressional district convention shall be held within the geographical boundaries of each congressional district each year. The state chair shall designate the date on which such congressional district convention shall be held. The exact location and time of the congressional district convention shall be determined by the congressional district chair.

Presiding Officer. All district conventions shall be called to order by the district chair, who shall serve as convention chair, but in his or her absence, the vice chairs of the district executive committee in order of succession, the secretary and the treasurer shall, in order of succession, preside over the convention, and in case none of the foregoing persons shall be present, then any delegate to the convention may preside and serve as convention chair until a permanent convention chair is elected by the convention.

Allocation of Votes. Each county in a congressional district shall be entitled to cast at a congressional district convention one (1) vote for every three hundred (300) votes, or major fraction thereof, cast in that county or in the applicable portion thereof, for the Democratic nominee for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election; provided, that each county shall be entitled to cast at least one vote. Each county shall be entitled to its full voting strength only if the county has elected its full voting strength; if not, the county shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of delegates they have elected.

Election of Delegates. The congressional district convention shall be composed of delegates elected by the several county conventions held annually. Each county or appropriate portion thereof shall elect one (1) delegate for each vote it is entitled to cast at the congressional district convention.

Roll of Delegates. The state chair shall direct the make-up of a roll of all delegates from the several counties to the district convention and transmit the same to the congressional district chair.

Division of Votes Among Delegates Present. The delegates who attend a district convention shall be entitled to vote the full strength of their county upon all matters of business which come before the respective district convention, and each such delegate present from a particular county shall cast an equal number of votes which the county is entitled to cast. All votes, which the county is entitled to cast, shall be divided equally among all the delegates in attendance representing that county.

Vote May Not be Changed. In a district convention, after a vote is cast, there shall be no change in such vote until after the roll call is completed and before the final result of the ballot shall be announced by the chair of the district convention.

Reporting and Challenging a Vote. In all district conventions, it shall be the duty of the delegates from the several counties to choose one of their number as chair, whose name shall be reported to the chair of such convention, and whose duty it shall be to cast the vote of his or her county as directed. The vote, as announced by that person, shall be recorded unless some delegate from that county challenges its accuracy. In the event of a challenge, it shall be the duty of the chair of the convention to cause the roll of delegates from that county to be called, upon which the vote of such county shall be tabulated and recorded according to the response of it delegates. In no event shall the vote of one county be challenged by a delegate from another county.

Voice Votes. Nothing herein shall prevent the district conventions from adopting temporary rules, making nominations, holding elections and conducting business by voice vote or by acclamation where a vote of counties is not demanded by twenty-five percent (25%) of the delegates present.

Quorum. A quorum at a District Convention shall exist at any time in which there is present on the floor at least one official delegate from fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the counties entitled to be at said convention.

Order of Business – Odd-Numbered Years. The congressional district convention held in odd-numbered years shall:

1. Elect, from among the active Democrats of the congressional district, officers of the congressional district executive committee; and then
2. Conduct any other business related to the affairs of the congressional district.

Order of Business – Even-Numbered Years. The congressional district convention held in even-numbered years shall:

1. Elect, from among the active Democrats of the congressional district, one member of the biennial State Convention's Committee on Credentials and Appeals;
2. Elect, from among the active Democrats, one member of the Council of Review;
3. In each presidential election year, elect, from among the active Democrats in the congressional district, the number of delegates first and then alternates to the Democratic National Convention allotted to each congressional district;
4. In each presidential election year, nominate from among the active Democrats in the Congressional District, one Presidential Elector from the congressional district; and then
5. Conduct any other business related to the affairs of the Congressional District.

Resolutions and Platforms. Certified resolutions and platforms from county conventions shall be considered by the delegates of the district convention. Those Resolutions and Platforms receiving a favorable recommendation at the district convention shall be certified by the secretary and transmitted to the state chair within five (5) days following the district convention. State chair shall ensure that such Resolutions and Platforms are transmitted to the Resolutions and Platforms Committee. Resolutions and Platforms not receiving a favorable recommendation at the district convention can only be brought to the floor of the biennial state convention in accordance with Section 8.01.

Certification. Within five (5) days following the district convention, the district chair shall certify to the state chair the names, addresses, race, gender, telephone numbers, and email addresses (where available) of all persons elected as delegates to the state convention, or as officers, or members of any executive committee.

6.02 STATE CONVENTION

When and Where Held. A state convention shall be held each even-numbered year. The state chair shall designate and announce the date, time and location of such convention as provided in Section 4.08.

Presiding Officer. The state convention shall be called to order by the state chair, who shall serve as convention chair, but in his or her absence, the vice chair of the state executive committee in order of succession, the secretary and the treasurer shall, in order of succession, preside over the convention, and in case none of the foregoing persons shall be present, then any delegate to the convention may preside and serve as convention chair until a permanent convention chair is elected by the convention.

Allocation of Votes. Each county in the state shall be entitled to cast at a state convention one (1) vote for every three hundred (300) Democratic votes, or major fraction thereof, cast in that county for the Democratic nominee for Governor in the last preceding gubernatorial election, provided that each county shall have at least one vote.

Election of Delegates. The state convention shall be composed of delegates elected by the several county conventions held in even-numbered years. Each county shall elect one (1) delegate for each vote it is entitled to cast at the state convention.

Roll of Delegates. The state chair shall direct the make-up of a roll of all delegates from the several counties to the state convention.

Division of Votes Among Delegates Present. The delegates who attend a state convention shall be entitled to vote the full strength of their county upon all matters of business which come before the respective state convention, and each such delegate present from a particular county shall cast an equal number of votes which the county is entitled to cast. All votes, which the county is entitled to cast, shall be divided equally among all the delegates in attendance representing that county.

Votes May Not be Changed. In a state convention, after a vote is cast, there shall be no change in such vote until after the roll call is completed and before the final result of the ballot shall be announced by the chair of said convention.

Reporting and Challenging a Vote. In a state convention, it shall be the duty of the delegates from the several counties to choose one of their number as chair, whose name shall be reported to the chair of such convention, and whose duty it shall be to cast the vote of his or her county as directed, and the vote, as announced by that person, shall be recorded unless some delegate from that county shall challenge its accuracy, in which event it shall be the duty of the chair of the convention to cause the roll of delegates from that county to be called, upon which the vote of such county shall be tabulated and recorded according to the response of it delegates; but in no event shall the vote of one county be challenged by a delegate from another county.

Voice Votes. Nothing herein shall prevent the state convention from adopting temporary rules, making nominations, holding elections and conducting business by voice vote or by acclamation where a vote of counties is not demanded by twenty-five percent (25%) of the delegates present.

Quorum. A quorum at a state convention shall exist at any time in which there is present on the floor at least one (1) official delegate from fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the counties entitled to be at said convention.

Selection of Presidential Elector. The State Convention in each presidential election year shall nominate from among the active Democrats in the State, two (2) Presidential Electors and a first and second alternate to serve in case any of the nominated Presidential Electors are unable to serve.

Back to Contents