Proposed 2025 Convention Rules

General February 25th, 2025

1. The order of business for this convention shall be as listed in the official agenda for the convention, subject to the discretion of the convention chair and the consent of the convention.

2. “Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised” shall be the parliamentary authority on all points not covered by the Constitution of the Senate District 55 Republican Party, the official call, or the rules as adopted by this convention.

3. Establishment of a quorum shall be as provided in the Senate District 55 Constitution (20% of eligible delegates), and once established no quorum call shall be in order.

4. These rules once adopted shall not be amended nor suspended except by a two-thirds vote of the convention or, as appropriate, a house district caucus for its caucus only.

Seating of Delegates and Alternates

5. The permanent roll of the convention shall be constituted as follows:

6. The duly elected delegates of each precinct who have checked in, are present, and seated. 

7. No elected delegate properly registered for a convention shall be denied his/her right to be seated at any time during a convention or separate house district caucus, except that no one shall be seated from the time any written ballots have been distributed until after such ballots have been collected.

8. The voting strength of each precinct shall be the number of delegates present at the convention.

9. The Credentials Committee shall report any known changes in the delegations prior to election of officers, election of delegates and alternates, endorsements, or when requested by the convention chair.

Speaking and Floor Privileges

10. A delegate or seated alternate wishing to speak shall rise, address the presiding officer, and when recognized, state his/her name and precinct, and the purpose for which he/she arose.

11. Debate on any motion or subject shall be limited to (2) minutes by each speaker. No person shall be allowed to speak more than twice upon the same subject or issue. No person shall be allowed to speak a second time until all those desiring to speak have had a first opportunity to speak.

12. At least two speakers on each side of a question shall be afforded the opportunity to speak before a motion for the previous question shall be in order. This shall also apply to a motion “To Lay on the Table.” If no one else wishes to speak or, after two speakers on each side, the Chair may call for the vote.

13. The convention chair may, at any time after the first agenda item on convention committees invite distinguished guests (at the discretion of the chair) to address the convention for a period of no longer than five (5) minutes.

14. The convention chair shall appoint a timekeeper for the purpose of timing discussions and speeches during the Convention, and shall enforce all time limits equitably.

VOTING

15. No elected delegate or alternate properly registered for a convention shall be denied his/her right to be seated at any time during a convention or separate house district caucus, except that no one shall be seated from the time any written ballots have been distributed until after such ballots have been collected.

16. Only registered delegates and registered seated alternates present at this Convention shall be permitted to vote.

17. The vote on all questions shall be by voice vote, except as follows:

18. Division. A rising or hand vote shall be taken if requested by any delegate or seated alternate, or at the discretion of the convention chair.

19. Voting method may be specified in writing for specific committee reports.

20. To be valid, a ballot for election of directors, or delegates and alternates shall not exceed the number of positions to be filled.

21. A minority report of any committee may be offered for substitution for the majority report if signed by one-third of the committee members.

22. Ballots will be distributed to and collected by the precinct chair or designee and returned to the Chief Teller, Credentials Chair, or designee.

23. Delegates and alternates to the Second Congressional District and State conventions, shall be elected by the convention body in its entirety.

24. When the ballots are verified by precinct (correct number returned according to the last credentials report) they will be co-mingled and then the results tabulated. 

25.For election of The Senate District 55 Chair, House District 55A Chair, House District 55B Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, the individual receiving the most votes shall be elected. If more than two candidates are seeking any of these offices and there is a tie amongst the top-two finishers, a run-off election shall be conducted amongst the top-two finishers. If there are two candidates seeking one of these offices and the vote is a tie, the winner shall be selected by a random method.

26. For election of Directors to the Senate District 55 Executive Committee, the four candidates receiving the most votes from each House District shall be elected. In the event of a tie for the fourth Director position, a run-off election shall be conducted, with only the candidates that tied in the vote count being eligible for the run-off. If the run-off results in a tie, the winner shall be selected by a random method.

27. For election of State Central Delegates and Alternates, the four candidates receiving the most votes from the entire convention shall be elected Delegates. The additional candidates will be ranked as alternates by their vote totals (up to eight alternates). In the event of a tie for the fourth Delegate position, a run-off election shall be conducted, with only the candidates that tied in the vote count being eligible for the run-off. If the run-off results in a tie, the winner shall be selected by a random method. In the event of a tie for the ranking of Alternates, the winner or ranking shall be selected by a random method. If a person only desires to be an alternate he or she shall still be listed on the ballot and if elected to a delegate position may drop to the first alternate position by written notice to the BPOU chair within five days.

ELECTIONS OF DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES

28. For the election of Executive Committee Members, State Central Delegates and Alternates, all candidates must meet with the nominating committee. In the event of nominations from the floor, the convention shall stand in recess to provide the nominations committee an opportunity to meet with these nominees.

29. No speeches or presentations shall be in order at the time of nomination.

30. Once nominations are closed, nominating, seconding, and candidate speeches may be made. The order of speaking for candidates will be drawn by lot. All presentations on behalf of a candidate will be completed before proceeding to the next nominee.

31. The total time for all campaign presentations and speeches to the convention floor will be as follows:

    a) Candidates for contested Senate District 55 Executive Committee offices (SD Chair, HD Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) – three (3) minutes;
    b) Candidates for contested Senate District 55 Executive Committee Directors positions – three (3) minutes;
    c) State Central Convention Delegate candidates thirty (30) seconds.

ADJOURNMENT

32. A motion to adjourn shall not be in order until the official business of the convention, as stated in the agenda, is completed.

SIGNAGE AND RULES OF CONDUCT

33. All signs shall be in the Convention Hall or at or near the entrance to the Convention Hall. All sign sizes, locations and method of attachment, must comply with the rules of the Convention host facility. Signs may be placed free-standing, but not be attached by any method to walls or doors. All signs must be removed within fifteen (15) minutes of the close of the convention and removed from the premises. No signs are allowed anywhere outside of the convention hall per host rules.

34. All campaign material must have the name of the candidate or delegate or alternate responsible for the materials.

35. There will be no recording or filming inside of the convention. Still photography or filming within a limited scope will be permitted only with prior approval of the Senate District Chair or one of the House District Chairs. This is a private meeting, which may include press passes, and will include a press release of proceedings. Any filming, photos, or recordings without proper approval will have to be outside of the convention.