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

11.00 MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Called Meetings. Unless otherwise provided for in this Plan of Organization, the chair, or forty percent (40%) of the membership of any committee, subcommittee, or council authorized under this Plan of Organization, may call meetings in addition to those required by this Plan of Organization.

When and Where. All committees shall meet at such times and places as the chair of the respective committee, subcommittee, or council may from time to time appoint and designate in the call, unless otherwise set forth in this Plan of Organization.

11.02 MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

Unless otherwise provided for in this Plan of Organization, written notice, sent via U.S. Mail, must be given to members for all meetings of any committee, subcommittee or council authorized under this Plan of Organization as follows:

For county executive committees, prosecutorial executive committees, state senatorial executive committees, state house of representatives executive committees, congressional district executive committees, or the state executive committee when meeting to fill a vacancy in nomination to elected office or elected office, five (5) days written notice;

For all other committee, subcommittee, or council meetings for any other purposes, fourteen (14) days written notice.

The first day of notice shall be considered the date indicated by the postmark imprinted by the United States Postal Service or a postage meter approved in accordance with a permit issued by the United States Postal Service.

The meeting notice must contain the date, time, place, and proposed agenda for the meeting.

When a member of any committee gives written authorization to receive notification of committee meetings by email, and specifying the email address to be used, email notification to that address is permitted, provided that the timing and content of the notice complies with other provisions set forth herein. Any written authorization to receive notification of committee meetings by email may be revoked by any committee member at any time and will automatically expire one (1) year after the authorization has been given.

The meeting notice for the state executive committee and the state executive council must be posted on the state party’s website.

11.03 QUORUM

Unless otherwise specifically provided for in this Plan of Organization, forty percent (40%) of the persons constituting the voting membership of a committee, subcommittee, or council shall constitute a quorum.

At a county, district or state convention, a quorum shall exist at any time at which there is present on the floor at least one official delegate from fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the precincts or counties entitled to be present at the respective convention with duly elected delegates to said convention.

11.04 MAJORITY VOTE

Unless otherwise provided for in this Plan of Organization, or as specified hereinbelow, after meeting the quorum requirements, from fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the votes cast shall constitute a majority for the purposes of voting and transacting business. At the discretion of the county Chair, state executive committee members, congressional district convention delegates, or state convention delegates, who are elected at a county convention, may be elected by a plurality vote.

11.05 PROXY VOTING

State Executive Committee. A member of the state executive committee may designate an active Democrat from his or her county to serve as his or her alternate for a particular state executive committee meeting by notifying the state chair, secretary, or executive director of such designation in writing, prior to the call to order of such meeting; except, that a member of the state executive committee who represents a county with two (2) or fewer committee members may designate an active Democrat from any county within his or her congressional district to serve as his or her alternate for a particular state executive meeting by notifying the state chair, secretary, or executive director of such designation in writing, prior to the call to order of such meeting; provided, however, that no one person may serve as an alternate for more than one member at any meeting and no member or alternate may be entitled to more than one vote.

Congressional, Prosecutorial, State Senatorial, or State House of Representatives District Executive Committee. A member of a district executive committee may designate an active Democrat from his or her county or appropriate portion thereof to serve as his or her alternate for a particular district executive committee meeting by notifying the appropriate district executive committee chair or secretary of such designation in writing, prior to the call to order of such meeting; provided, however, that no person may serve as an alternate for more than one member at any meeting and no member can also serve at the same meeting as an alternate.

County Executive Committee. A member of a county executive committee may designate an active Democrat from his or her precinct, and when the member is president of a duly organized and chartered county chapter of a state auxiliary organization, he or she may designate a member of his or her auxiliary organization, to serve as his or her alternate for a particular county executive committee meeting by notifying the county executive committee chair or secretary of such designation in writing, prior to the call to order of such meeting; provided, however, that no person may serve as an alternate for more than one member at any meeting and no member can also serve at the same meeting as an alternate.

State Executive Council. A member of the state executive council may designate an active Democrat to serve as his or her alternate for a particular state executive council meeting by notifying the state chair, secretary, or executive director of such designation in writing, prior to the call to order of such meeting; provided, however, that no person may serve as an alternate for more than one member at any meeting and no member can also serve at the same meeting as an alternate.

Precinct Meetings, County, District, or State Conventions. Proxy voting shall not be permitted at precinct meetings, county, district, or state conventions.

11.06 SUBCOMMITTEES

All Executive Committees shall have the power to appoint such ad hoc or standing committees for such purposes and with such powers in their respective jurisdictions as may be deemed necessary or desirable so long as the functions of the committees are consistent with this Plan of Organization.

11.07 FILLING VACANCIES IN ELECTED OFFICE AND IN NOMINATION FOR ELECTED OFFICE

Vacancies in elected office and in nomination for elected office shall be filled as prescribed by this Plan of Organization, consistent with North Carolina General Statutes.

11.08 REPORTS BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES AND COUNTY CHAIRS

It shall be the duty of the county executive committee and its chair to make such reports and furnish such information to the state chair as may be reasonably requested by the state chair.

11.09 ACTIVE DEMOCRAT DEFINED

An active Democrat is a person who is registered to vote in North Carolina as a Democrat and who gives of his or her time and/or means to further the interests of the Democratic Party.

11.10 DEFINITION OF RESIDENCE

Residence shall be defined as voting residence in accordance with North Carolina law.

11.11 UNIT RULE ABOLISHED

The "unit rule" exists where all of a non-unanimous delegation’s votes are cast according to the vote or will of less than a unanimous majority of its delegates. The use of the unit rule is prohibited in all activities and at all levels of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

11.12 NO CONVENTION MAY BIND ANOTHER

No convention may vote to bind a subsequent convention.

11.13 NOMINATING COMMITTEES AND NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Unless otherwise provided for in this Plan of Organization, nominating committees are permitted to recommend a name or slate of names to fill an office or offices, but nominations from the floor shall be permitted for any office.

11.14 PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the North Carolina Democratic Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Plan of Organization and any adopted special rules of order.

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