PROPOSED Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party Convention

PROPOSED Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party Convention Rule No. 1 - Officers of the Nevada Republican Party Convention. A) The Temporary Chairman of the Nevada Republican Party (NRP) Convention shall be appointed by the current NRP Chairman. The Temporary Secretary of the NRP Convention shall be the NRP Secretary. Delegates of the NRP Convention shall elect the permanent NRP Convention officers. The elected Permanent NRP Convention Chairman shall appoint the permanent convention chairs. B) Permanent Chairmen of the NRP Convention may be removed by a majority vote of NRP Convention delegates. C) Parliamentarian. The Chairman of the NRP Convention may appoint a Parliamentarian to advise the Chairman on procedural matters of the Convention. The Parliamentarian shall only address the Convention as a whole at the request of the Convention Chairman, but if a delegate objects, only with consent of a majority of the delegates. The Parliamentarian shall not vote unless by secret ballot. D) Sergeant-at-Arms. The Chairman of the NRP Convention is empowered to appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms to maintain order and enforce procedures of the Convention. The Sergeant-at-Arms may appoint assistant Sergeants-at-Arms as necessary to fulfill his/her duties. Rule No. 2 - Order of Business. A) The Order of Business for the NRP Convention shall be as follows: 1. Call to Order and Welcoming Comments NRP Chairman a. Invocation as assigned by NRP Chairman b. Presentation of Colors as assigned by NRP Chairman c. Pledge of Allegiance as assigned by NRP Chairman d. National Anthem as assigned by NRP Chairman 2. Appointment of the Temporary Convention Chairman NRP Chairman 3. Announcement of the Temporary Committee Chairmen Temporary Convention Chairman 4. Preliminary Report on Credentials. Recommendation of Quorum (if present) Credentials Chairman 5. Declaration of Quorum (if present, no earlier than time set in the Call to the Convention) - Temporary Chairman. 6. Receive Final Report on Credentials Credentials Committee Chairman a. Recommendations for resolution to disputed credentials b. Resolution of disputed credentials by Convention 7. Adoption of Final Credentials Report as amended. 8. Election of Permanent Convention Chairman - Temporary Convention Chairman if not nominated. If nominated, NRP Chairman shall preside over election process. a. Nomination by NRP State Chairman b. Other Nominations for Permanent Convention Chairman c. Election of Permanent Convention Chairman (by acclamation if only one candidate or by show of hands if more than one) 9. Appointment of Permanent Committee Chairmen and members NRP Permanent Convention Chairman 10. Receive report from Committee on Rules and adopt NRP Convention Rules Rules Committee Chairman 11. Receive Report on Bylaws Bylaws Committee Chairman a. Adoption of Final Bylaws Report as amended. 12. Receive Report on Nominations Nominations Committee Chairman a. Determination of Number of NRP Central Committee Members b. Nomination and Election of National Committee Members c. Nomination and Election of Congressional District National Delegates d. Nomination and Election of Delegate-at-Large National Delegates e. Nomination and Election of Presidential Electors 13. Receive Report on Resolutions a. Adoption of Final Resolutions Report as amended. 14. Receive Report on Platform Platform Committee Chairman a. Adoption of Final Platform Report as amended. 15. New Business Convention Chairman 16. Announcements Convention Chairman 17. Closing Remarks - NRP Chairman 18. Consideration of Adjournment a. Declaration of Sine Die Adjournment Convention Chairman B) By unanimous consent, the Chair is empowered to deviate from the adopted Agenda in order to expedite the business of the Convention. A motion for the Orders of the Day is in order at any time, even if another is speaking and requires a majority vote. Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 1 of 6

Rule No. 3 - Credentials and Identification. A) Each registered Delegate shall receive a badge from the Credentials Committee and wear it in full view during all sessions of the Convention. Photographic identification of Delegates and Alternate Delegates shall be presented to the Sergeants-of-Arms when requested to verify credentials. B) Delegates shall sit in designated areas. Alternate Delegates, guests, visitors, members of the press and others shall sit in areas designated by the Chair. The Sergeants-at-Arms shall remove anyone from the Convention Delegate area without proper credentials. C) The only persons that will be admitted to the NRP Convention will be registered and paid delegates, and alternates, and guests authorized by the Credentials Committee. Members of the press are welcomed to observe the convention processes from areas designated by the Convention Chairman. Rule No. 4 - Quorum A) A majority of Delegates registered and attending the Convention shall constitute a quorum. B) Once a Quorum is declared, a challenge to the quorum shall not be in order until all of the Convention business required by the Republican National Rules and Bylaws of the Nevada Republican Party is complete. Rule No. 5 - Discussion and Voting. A) Only Delegates may discuss and vote on matters before the Convention. B) Proxy votes are not allowed. C) Delegates wishing to speak shall first address the Chair, obtain recognition, and state their name and county. D) When requested by the Chair, motions shall be submitted in writing, signed and presented to the Chair. E) A Delegate may speak twice on any motion, with the second opportunity being granted only when no other Delegate is wishing to speak and time limits have not expired. On matters of Platform and Resolutions, debate is limited to one minute per person and 10 minutes on any Main Motion. Extension of the total time may be granted by the Chair only if authorized by a two-thirds vote of the delegates. On matters of procedure, debate is limited to the requirements of the Bylaws. F) In debate, the Chair shall endeavor to alternate between opposing positions on motions under consideration. Rule No. 6 - Adoption, Revision and Amendment of the NRPC Agenda and Rules. Once adopted by a majority vote of Delegates, the Report on Rules shall only be modified or suspended by a twothirds vote. Rule No. 7 - Motions that are not in Order A) Proposed amendments not adopted in the report by a Convention committee may be made as a motion from the floor only if first presented in writing to the Convention committee no later than 15 minutes after the adoption of these rules on the day of the Convention. B) A motion to cut off debate (Call the Question) will be considered dilatory as long as delegates are wishing to speak and time has not expired. The Chair is empowered to call for a vote on any pending motion when no member remains standing wishing to speak. C) An unqualified motion to Suspend the Rules is not in order at any time. However, a motion to Suspend the Rules solely for the consideration of a particular matter is in order. Once the specified matter for which the rules have been suspended has been disposed of, these Rules will automatically reactivate without a vote. D) A motion to suspend the Rules for the purpose of adding delegates to the Convention after adoption of the final Report on Credentials shall not be in order. Rule No. 8 - Convention Committees. A) The State Chairman shall appoint a temporary chairman to each of the NRP State Convention committees. Temporary Convention Committee chairmen may solicit members of the convention committees from the county party chairmen and appoint any Nevada-registered Republican with the consent of the NRP Chairman. B) Convention Committees shall consist of, but not be limited to the following committees: 1. Arrangements: to be responsible for making physical arrangements for the Convention. In addition, the Arrangements Committee shall be responsible for reviewing changes needed in physical arrangements during the Convention. The Arrangements Committee shall be responsible for reviewing contractual payments prior to release by the NRP. 2. Bylaws (same as Standing Committee): to gather and review all Bylaws proposals and prepare a Report of Bylaws as recommended by the committee to be considered by the Convention for adoption. 3. Credentials (same as Standing Committee): to examine and certify the credentials of all persons claiming status as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the Convention and to present a Credentials Report to be considered by the Convention for ratification. 4. Platform: to review all submitted proposals on substantive political issues of concern at the state and national levels; and to prepare Report on Platform as recommended by the committee to be considered by the Convention for adoption. 5. Resolutions: to gather and review all submitted resolution proposals and prepare a Report of Resolutions as recommended by the committee to be considered by the Convention for adoption. 6. Elections: to supervise the preparation and printing of ballots, their distribution to voting members, the collection and counting of the ballots, and the preparation of a report showing the results of any election. Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 2 of 6

Election processes adopted must be in accordance with the provisions of the NRP Bylaws and the Rules of the Republican National Committee, as applicable. Any delegate to the NRP State Convention is entitled to observe the work of the elections committee without interference in the process. In addition, one (1) representative from each presidential campaign may be present to observe the work of the Elections Committee without interference in the process. 7. Nominating (same as Standing Committee): to prepare a listing of candidates for elective positions to be filled by the Convention. In contested elections, such listing shall NOT be construed as a listing of recommended candidates. 8. Rules: to prepare a Report of Rules as recommended by the committee to be considered by the Convention for adoption. Rule No. 9 - Convention Committee Reports. A) Other than the Report on Credentials, all other reports presented to the Convention will be received by the Secretary of the Convention. Collective report proposals accepted without objection will not be considered as adopted until the report as amended is accepted in its entirety by a majority vote of Delegates. B) Minority Reports from committees require an agreement of at least 25% of the entire membership of the committee before the report can be presented to the Convention. C) Proposals to be considered for inclusion in any report of the Convention shall be presented in writing to the Chairman of the committee no later than 15 minutes after the adoption of these rules on the day of the convention. D) Any proposal not adopted in the report by the Convention committee may be moved from the floor if it was first presented to the Convention committee. E) Credentials Committee Report 1. All Delegates and Alternate Delegates must be registered no later than 9:00am on the day of the Convention. If processing of Delegates and Alternate Delegates remains incomplete by the close of registration, the Credential Committee may extend the processing deadline for those present and waiting in line. The Credentials Committee must segregate those waiting in line at the 9:00am deadline. 2. The Credentials Committee shall review all documentation for Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Convention. A preliminary Report on Credentials shall be presented to the Convention by the Credentials Chair as soon as possible after the close of registration. 3. All Delegates who have registered for the Convention and whose credentials are not disputed shall be seated. 4. If a Delegate seat representing a county remains vacant at the close of registration, the Committee on Credentials is only authorized to elevate an Alternate Delegate that was elected by their county convention from that county into a vacant Delegate seat following a majority vote of the seated Delegation to accept the preliminary Report on Credentials and then shall do so in ascending order of elected Alternate Delegates as reported from the County Convention. 5. Following a county convention s election of their Delegates and Alternates to the Nevada Republican Party Convention, filling of their vacant Delegate seats or elevating their elected Alternate Delegates shall only be done following a majority vote of the seated Nevada Republican Party Convention Delegation to accept the preliminary Report on Credentials. 6. All challenges to the credentials of a Delegate or Alternate Delegate shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Credentials Committee no later than ten (10) minutes after the adoption of the preliminary Report on Credentials. 7. Prior to the final Report on Credentials, the Chair of the Committee on Credentials will report the findings of credentials not found to be in order or which credentials have been contested. The Delegates seated after the first Report on Credentials will determine the status of the questioned or contested Delegate seats. Once resolved by the Convention, the Delegates approved by majority vote shall be included in the final Report on Credentials. 8. The Credentials Committee must submit the final Report on Credentials for ratification by the Convention prior to voting on any matter that is not ceremonial in nature F) Nominating Committee Report 1. Convention Delegates from each Congressional District shall elect their respective Congressional District Delegates to the Republican National Convention. This number is understood to be 12 Delegates and 12 Alternate Delegates. 2. The Convention shall elect At-Large Delegates to the Republican National Convention. This number is understood to be 13 Delegates and 13 Alternate Delegates. 3. Any eligible registered voter in the Nevada Republican Party that is a Delegate to the Nevada Republican Party Convention is eligible to be nominated as a Congressional District Delegate or Delegate-at-Large to the Republican National Convention. Any eligible registered voter in the Nevada Republican Party is eligible to be nominated as a Presidential Elector. Nominations will be made on a Congressional District Delegate, Delegate-at-Large, or Presidential Elector Nomination Form. Delegate or Elector nominations Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 3 of 6

received by the Nominating Committee prior to the Convention will be considered valid nominations. Nominations not received by the Nominating Committee prior to April 28, 2012 must be placed in the Nominations Box no later than 15 minutes after the adoption of these rules on the day of the Nevada Republican State Convention. 15 minutes after the adoption of these rules nominations will be closed. Nominations may be made by any qualified delegate to the Republican State Convention. Nominations placed in the Nominations Box must be legible. Political resume or references are not required. Nor is any person required to declare which presidential candidate they support. 4. Once nominations are closed, the Nominating Committee will determine the number of nominated Delegates and Alternate Delegates and announce these numbers to the Convention. If the number of Delegate nominations exceeds the number of available Delegate positions, the list shall be immediately sent to the Chairman of the Elections Committee for preparation of documents necessary to conduct an election in accordance with procedures adopted by the Convention conforming to the requirements of the national Rules of the Republican Party. 5. The Nominating Committee is specifically forbidden to publish a list of recommended or suggested Delegates or Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention. G) Resolutions Committee Report 1. The Report on Resolutions shall include commending, thanking or memorializing persons and legislative actions faithful to the principles of the Republican Party. Issues of substance, including those of immediate consequence will be referred to the Platform Committee. The preliminary work of the Resolutions Committee shall be available to delegates Friday May 4, 2012. H) Platform Committee Report 1. The preliminary work of the Platform Committee shall be available to delegates and alternates Friday, May 4, 2012 2. Additions of simple contradictory clarifications (such as the word "not') may be added to Platform proposals from the floor without being submitted to the Platform Committee for review. 3. Amendments that are grammatical in nature require only unanimous consent without debate. 4. Language proposed by the Platform Committee may be deleted all or in part from the floor without previous consideration by the Platform Committee. Rule No. 10 - Elections A) Determination of Number of Nevada Republican Central Committee Members 1. If no lesser number is determined, Nevada Republican Central Committee representation shall be determined as defined in the Bylaws. 2. Determination of the number of members of the NRCC Central Committee shall be based on the registration rolls of the County Registrars of Voters as of January 1, 2012. B) Congressional District Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican national Convention 1. As provided in the national Rules of the Republican Party, three (3) Delegates and three (3) Alternate Delegates shall be elected by NRP State Delegates residing within each respective Congressional District. Each Congressional District caucus shall determine methods of electing their delegates not in conflict with the national Rules of the Republican Party, or Bylaws of the NRP. Alternate Congressional District Delegates may run for Delegate-at-Large and if successfully elected shall yield their Alternate Congressional District position to the other alternates or, if unsuccessful, retain their original alternate position. 2. The Call to the NRP State Convention shall serve as a Call to the multi-county Congressional District caucus convention. C) Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention 1. The Elections Committee will provide a paper ballot to all delegates. Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates will be determined by secret ballot voted upon by the Delegates to the Convention. Each voting Delegate to the Nevada Republican Party Convention will be entitled to vote one time for each Delegate position allowed under the Bylaws (Nevada Republican Party is allowed 13 At-Large Delegates to the National Convention, each Delegate is entitled to cast 13 votes on the prepared Ballot.) Those nominees receiving the greatest votes will be elected and ranked in descending order of the votes received. Once the Delegate positions are filled, then the Alternate Delegate seats will be filled in descending order of votes received. Tie votes will be decided by a cut of cards with highest draw winning, ace is low. 2. In the event a nominee is elected to both a Congressional District Delegate and Delegate-at-Large, a Congressional District Delegate and Alternate Delegate-at-Large, an Alternate Congressional District Delegate and Delegate-at-Large, or an Alternate Congressional District Delegate and Alternate Delegateat-Large position, they shall vacate the lower-ranking delegate or alternate position in either the first or fourth case, or the alternate position in either the second or third case, and their vacated position replaced by the nominee receiving the next higher number of votes. Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 4 of 6

3. When necessary for an elected Alternate Delegate to replace an elected Delegate to the Republican National Convention, the election shall be undertaken by the remaining Delegates unless the process is otherwise mandated by Rules of the national Republican Party. D) Binding of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention 1. Special 2012 Rules of the Nevada Republican Party, as adopted by the Nevada Republican Central Committee on April 2, 2011, state the method by which the NRP Secretary shall assign an obligation to vote for a particular Presidential Candidate to each National Delegate that is proportional to the votes each Presidential Candidate received in the Presidential Preference Poll and when the binding is released. Relevant sections covering delegate binding are included below (in italics). DELEGATE BINDING RULES FOR 2012 Section 1- Proportional Allocation of Delegates and Alternates Pursuant to 15(b) of the Rules of the National Republican Committee, in Presidential election years, National Delegates and Alternates shall be allocated proportionally based on the final results of the Nevada Presidential Preference Poll, rounded to the nearest whole number. National delegates shall be chosen at the Nevada Republican Convention by election. Any candidate who receives less than the percentage required for one Delegate will receive no Delegates. Section 2 Nomination and Election of National Delegates and Alternates Nominations for the position of National Delegate and Alternates, whether At Large or Congressional District, shall be by self-nomination. Nominees must be Delegates to the State Convention. Nominations may be submitted from the floor or in advance in writing to the NRP Secretary. Section 3 Election of National Delegates and Alternates National Delegates shall be chosen at the Nevada Republican Convention by election. There shall be three (3) delegates and three (3) alternate delegates allocated to represent each Congressional district in Nevada, who shall be elected by each such Congressional district. Section 4 - Assignment of National Delegates and Alternates Section 4.1 After their election, the NRP Secretary shall assign an obligation to vote for a particular Presidential Candidate to each National Delegate no later than ten calendar days after the close of the State Convention. The assignments shall be proportional to the votes each Presidential Candidate received in the Presidential Preference Poll. Section 4.2 The NRP Secretary shall allocate National Delegates to the candidate of their choice by first allocating the three automatic delegates (Nevada Republican Party Chair, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman) to their preferred candidate. Section 4.3 The NRP Secretary will next allocate the three prospective delegates from each congressional district receiving the highest number of votes to their preferred candidate to comply with RNC Rule 13 (a) (3). Section 4.4 The Secretary will then allocate the remaining delegates for each candidate, beginning with the prospective national delegate for a given candidate receiving the most votes, followed by the prospective national delegate for said candidate receiving the second highest number of votes and continuing in descending order of votes received until the number of delegates and alternates earned by each candidate in the Presidential Preference Poll has been allocated. The delegate slots for each candidate will be filled by the prospective national delegates receiving the highest number of votes, and the alternate slots will be filled by the prospective delegates receiving the next highest number of votes after the delegate slots are filled. Section 4.5 In the event of a tie, the decision shall be made by the cutting of a deck of cards, the winner being the high card. Section 5 - Binding of National Delegates and Alternates All National Delegates and Alternates, ex officio, At Large and Congressional District, shall be required to vote for the Presidential Candidate to whom they are bound. This requirement applies only to the first candidate vote at the Republican National Convention. Section 6 - Release of National Delegates and Alternates National Delegates and Alternates who are bound whose committed candidate withdraws or is otherwise removed from the ballot after the Nevada Republican Convention but before the first candidate vote of the National Republican Convention are released from their commitment and may vote as they choose on the first ballot. Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 5 of 6

E) Electing Presidential Electors and Alternates. 1. Presidential Electors and Alternates representing the four Nevada U.S. Congressional Districts shall be legally registered members of the Nevada Republican Party nominated and elected by secret ballot by Delegates to the Nevada Republican Party Convention residing within each respective Congressional District. Each Congressional District caucus shall determine a method for of electing their one (1) Presidential Elector. 2. Presidential Electors and Alternates representing the two Nevada U.S. Senatorial Seats shall be legally registered members of the Nevada Republican Party nominated and elected by secret ballot by all Delegates to the Nevada Republican Party Convention in an at-large election. 3. Upon their election thereof, the chair and the secretary of the convention shall certify the names and addresses of the six (6) elected nominees to the Nevada Secretary of State. 4. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. Rule No. 11 - Parliamentary Authority A) The national Rules of the Republican Party, the Bylaws of the Nevada Republican Party, and the Bylaws of the Nevada Republican Party Republican Central Committee shall have precedence of authority over these Rules. In accordance with the Bylaws of the NRP, Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, latest edition that has been in print for at least two years, shall be the Parliamentary Authority of the NRP Convention. Rule No. 12 - Approval of Convention Proceedings A) Upon completion, the Minutes shall be presented to the Executive Committee of the Nevada Republican Party for correction and approval. Rule No. 13 Other Provisions A) No smoking shall be permitted in the convention hall. Alcoholic beverages shall neither be consumed nor permitted on the convention floor. Agreed by the Convention Rules Committee - Kurt Criss, Rick Houghtelling [except 4(B)], Cindy Lake, Dr. Ken Searles, Wayne Terhune, Mike Weber, Jim Wheeler. Proposed Rules for the 2012 Nevada Republican Party State Convention VERSION 08 Page 6 of 6