State Convention Training

Welcome!

Registration & Check In

RPT Website

All Registration is done online at the RPT website No packets will be mailed

Register Facility Fee Choices

Delegate

Alternate

Guest

Any child under the age of 10

Event Tickets

Which Account

Federal or State or Corporate

Book Hotel

Are you paying with corporate

funds?Yes

No

CORPORATE

Do you contribute more than $10,000 per person per year?

Yes

STATE

No

Do you donate more than $5,000 for a multi-candidate PAC?

No

Yes

STATEFEDERAL

Check In

Find the kiosk with your Senate District (SD) Present a Photo ID

Obtain:

Credentials

No paper tickets, the bar code on your credentials will serve as your ticket to the event(s)• Please save the email you receive from Eventbrite

Program

Souvenir Convention Bag

Times Wednesday: Noon – 8p

Thursday: 7a – 7p

Friday: 7a – 6p

Saturday: 8a – 4p

On Site Registration

Pre Register!!

Avoid lines

Make sure you get tickets to the events you want

Accounting Office Onsite

Register

Facility Fees

Events

IF tickets are still available

Stand in line at your SD to obtain your credentials

Scooter Rental

Contact them NOW to have your scooter

ready & waiting when you arrive!

Committees

Temp Cmt Appointments

Each SREC Member recommends ONE delegate for each committee.

If both SREC Members agree on the same committee appointment that is who the State Chair must appoint to the committee.

If they members disagree the State Chair must choose between the two recommendations.

The State Chair may appoint any delegate from a SD that:

Does not submit any names for consideration

Submits names that are ineligible or unwilling to serve

Appointments must be made within 20 days of the County/SD Conventions.

Temp Cmt Appointments

Rules concerning appointments

All individuals submitted must be delegates at the state convention.

Alternates are not allowed to sit on committees.

The individual must be willing to serve

Ensure the appointee is aware of the additional time and financial commitments that serving as a committee member will incur.

Their name and contact information will be posted on the RPT website

Committee Chairs are appointed by the State Chair

Temp Cmt Appointments

All committee meetings are open meetings

Non members are allowed to testify at the appropriate time Platform

Rules

On RPT website Temp Committee Chairs

Temp Committee Members

Temp CD Caucus Chairs

Temp SD Caucus Chairs

Temporary Platform & Resolutions

First Meeting: Monday of Convention

Break into Sub Committees

The Committee Report is the Party Platform that is debated by the delegates before being adopted.

Temporary Rules

First Meeting: Monday of Convention

Recommends the Supplement Rules of the Convention to the SREC

The Committee Report is the Party Rules that is debated by the delegates before being adopted.

Temporary Organization

First Meeting: Wednesday before Convention

Recommend permanent officers for the State Convention from among the delegates

The recommended candidates are then voted on by the delegates at the Convention.

Temporary Credentials

First Meeting: Wednesday before Convention

Hear any contest concerning delegates and shall recommend the permanent roll of the convention

State Nominations

First Meeting: After the second SD Caucus

Nominates the State Chair & Vice Chair to the Convention Body

Candidate Nominated by the Committee

Must have support from 16 of the 31 SD Caucuses

Each member must support the candidate chosen at the SD Caucus on the first ballot.

If no one receives the majority then additional rounds of voting take place until one candidate does obtain a majority.

At this time Committee members are no longer bound to their SD’s vote.

National Nominations

First Meeting: After the first CD Caucus

Committee Make up

1 Chair

36 members

Meeting Times

Thursday @6:30p

Friday @ 2p

Saturday @ 10a

Submit your application

Application online

Testify before the committee

National Nominations

Nominates RNC Members

National Committee Woman

National Committee Man

Requires support from 19 of the 36 CD Caucuses to be nominated by the committee

Each member must support the candidate chosen at the CD Caucus on the first ballot.

If no one receives the majority then additional rounds of voting take place until one candidate does obtain a majority.

At this time Committee members are no longer bound to their CD’s vote.

National Nominations

Selects At Large Delegates & Alternates

Automatic At Large Delegates

State Chair

National Committee Woman

National Committee Man

44 Delegates & 44 Alternates

The final list is adopted by the Convention

It cannot be amended from the floor

Elects two At Large Presidential Electors

General Sessions

First Session

*Opening Ceremony

*Call to Order

*Temporary Committee Reports

Remarks – State Chair Candidates

Remarks – Vice Chair Candidates

Remarks by various elected officials

* Required Item

Seated by SD

Second Session

*Call to Order

*Report of the Permanent Credential Cmt

*Adoption of Agenda & Supplementary Rules

*Report of Permanent Organization Cmt

Election of Permanent Convention Officers

*Report of Permanent State Nominations Cmt

Election of State Chair & Vice Chair* Required Item

Seated by SD

Third Session

Remarks – Candidates for National Committeewoman

Remarks – Candidates for National Committeeman

*Call to Order

*Report of the Permanent Rules Cmt

Debate on Party Rules

*Report of Permanent Platform Cmt

Debate on Party Platform* Required Item

Seated by SD

Fourth Session

*Call to Order

Remarks by various elected officials

*Report of National Nominations Cmt

Election of RNC Members

Adoption of National Nominations Report

Actual Election of At Large Delegates & Alternates

Cannot be amended from the floor

Closing Remarks

*Adjournment* Required Item

Seated by CD

Senate District (SD)Caucus

Temp SD Caucus Chair

Two possible methods of appointment MOST COMMON: The SREC Members appoint ONE delegate

from their senatorial district If both SREC Members agree on the same appointment that is who the

State Chair must appoint.

If they members disagree the State Chair must choose between the two recommendations.

The State Chair may appoint any delegate from a SD that:

Does not submit any names for consideration

Submits names that are ineligible or unwilling to serve

If a Senatorial District lies solely within one county the SD Convention can submit in writing a resolution passed by the convention requesting the State Chair appoint the Permanent Chair of the last Senatorial District convention if that person is eligible and willing to serve.

Temp SD Caucus Chair

Appointments must be made within 20 days of the County/SD Conventions. Appointments are due Friday, April 8th via email to

cdaniel@texasgop.org

Rules concerning appointments All individuals submitted must be delegates at the state

convention. Alternates are not allowed to be Caucus Chairs.

The individual must be willing to serve

Ensure the appointee is aware of the additional time commitment that serving as a committee member will incur. Caucus Chair Training will be at 8am on Thursday, May 12th

1st SD Caucus

*Voting done by strength* Business – Agenda established by supplement rules

Call to Order Appointment of Temporary Officers by Temporary Chair Roll Call – Establishing Voting Body

Seating of Delegates Seating of Alternates for absent Delegates

Elect Permanent SD Caucus Chairman Appoint Permanent SD Caucus Officers Elects one delegate to Permanent Committees

Platform & Resolutions Rules Credentials

Announcements & Adjournment

2nd SD Caucus

*Voting done by strength* Business – Agenda established by supplement rules

Call to Order Roll Call – Establishing Voting Body

Seating of DelegatesSeating of Alternates for absent Delegates

Read minutes from previous caucus meeting State Party Officers Nominations

State Chairman State Vice Chairman

State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) Members Committeewoman Committeeman

Elects one delegate to Permanent Committee State Nominations

State Chair & Vice Chair Elections

Chair & Vice Chair

Paperwork is required to be filed prior to running

Must be nominated by a Delegates in each SD for consideration by that SD

The State Nominations Committee nominates the State Chair candidate who received a majority of SD nominations.

Nominated from the Floor

Rules require that any candidate who receives the support from at least 3 of the 31 SD Caucuses to be nominated from the floor

Or a written petition of 20% of delegates

If more than one candidate is nominated then a vote by secret ballot is held

Voting is done by delegation strength

SREC Member Election

SREC Election

No paperwork is required to be filed prior to running

Must be nominated by a Delegates in your SD

Each nominee should have a speech prepared

Others may speak on your behold within your time limit

Plan to campaign for the WIN!

Stickers, Handouts, Political Bio, etc.

SREC Organizational Meeting Saturday After Adjournment

Plank – by – Plank Platform Voting

Debating the Platform

The Permanent Platform Committee will create their report:

Available

Online

Hard copy

The convention will debate the Platform

Amendments

Insert or Strike

Entire planks

Specific wording

Official Party Platform

SREC will recommend the final vote on the floor be taken on each individual platform plank after deliberations cease.

This represents a change from previous years, where the vote was taken on the floor for the entire document at once.

The final ratified document will be the Platform for the Republican Party of Texas until the next State Convention.

Adopting the Platform

Debate will occur

Once the Question is Called (Previous Question) all debate will cease and the body will vote to either continue or end debate.

The body ends debate we will move immediately into Plank – by – Plank voting.

Alternates will be seated as delegates before voting begins.

Ballots will be passed out to all those entitled to vote.

Voting will proceed plank by plank.

Once all planks have been voted on the ballots will be collected.

The ballots will then be counted and the final platform created based on the results.

Plank – by – Plank

PLANK Include in Platform?

Include Do Not Include

1

2

3

CongressionalDist. (CD) Caucus

1st CD Caucus

*One person. One vote.*

Business – Agenda established by supplement rules Call to Order Appointment of Temporary Officers

Roll Call – Establishing Voting BodySeating of DelegatesSeating of Alternates for absent Delegates

Elect Permanent CD Caucus Chairman Appoint Permanent CD Caucus Officers Elects one delegate to Permanent Committees

National Nominations

Announcements & Adjournment

2nd CD Caucus

*One person. One vote.*

Business – Agenda established by supplement rules Call to Order

Roll Call – Establishing Voting Body Seating of Delegates

Seating of Alternates for absent Delegates

Read minutes from previous caucus meeting

Elections National Convention 3 Delegates & 3 Alternates

Nomination of Presidential Elector

Nomination of RNC Members National Committeewoman

National Committeeman

Announcements & Adjournment

RNC Member Election

RNC Member Election

Paperwork is required to be filed prior to running

Must be nominated by a Delegate in each CD for consideration by that CD

The National Nominations Committee nominates the RNC Members who received a majority of CD nominations.

Requires support from 19 of the 36 CD Caucuses to be nominated from the committee

Nominated from the Floor Rules require that any candidate who receives the support from at least 3

of the 36 CD Caucuses to be nominated from the floor

Or a written petition of 20% of delegates

If more than one candidate is nominated then a vote by secret ballot is held

Voting is – one person, one vote

2016 National Delegate Binding

Binding of Delegates

At Large Delegates

Bound by the statewide outcome of the March 1st primary

Selected by National Nominations Committee

At Large Automatic Delegates

National Committeewoman

National Committeeman

State Chairman

Congressional District (CD) Delegates

Bound by the CD wide outcome of the March 1st primary

Selected by the delegates from that CD in caucus

Binding of Delegates

Uncommitted

RPT Rule 38 – “Uncommitted” is an option on the ballot and is counted in the same manner as a presidential candidate.

Withdrawals

If a candidate files sworn statement with RPT to withdraw, then that candidate’s delegates would become “Uncommitted”

NOTE: Candidates who have made public withdrawal announcements but who have not officially withdrawn in Texas will have their delegates allocated to them as if they had not withdrawn.

CD Delegates

Binding Options for CD elected Delegates

Scenario A

One Candidate 50% or more = 3 Delegates

Scenario B

One Candidate gets 20% or more = 2 Delegates

Next highest vote getter = 1 Delegate

Scenario C

No candidate receives 20% = top 3 vote getters each get 1 Delegate

At Large Delegates

Scenario A

One Candidate 50% or more = ALL At Large Delegates

Scenario B

No Candidate receives a statewide majority AND more than one candidate receives at least 20% THEN only those candidates are entitled to delegates

Delegates are allocated proportionally among those candidates beginning with the highest vote getter, rounding up to the nearest whole number, proceeding until all delegates are allocated.

At Large Delegates

Scenario CIf only one candidate receives 20% or more THEN only

that candidate and the second-highest vote getter are entitled to delegatesThe delegates are allocated proportionally between

those two candidates, beginning with the highest vote getter, rounding up to the nearest whole number.

Scenario DIf no candidate receives 20% of the statewide votedelegates are allocated proportionally, beginning with

the highest vote getter, rounding up to the nearest whole number, proceeding seriatim until all delegates are allocated.

Voting at National Convention

Nomination for President All delegates are bound accordingly on the 1st vote

Delegates remain bound to their candidate until:

1st Round: the candidate dies, formally withdraws or the releases their delegates

2nd Round: If the candidate fails to receive 20% or more of the total votes cast on the 1st Round or if the candidate releases their delegates

3rd Round: At that time the delegate is no longer bound to any candidate

Magic Number 1,237 Needed for Nomination

2,472 possible

Other Events at Convention

Freedom, Faith, & Family Event

Family friendly celebration

7:30p – 9p Main Auditorium on Thursday

Speakers

Texas Senator Brian Birdwell

Purple Heart recipient

Survivor of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon

Bob Smiley

Family friendly comedian

More to come!

~~FREE~~

Join the Grassroots Club!

No fundraising calls or mail from RPT

Quarterly TeleTown Hall with exciting guests

Exclusive rewards at the RPT State Convention GRC Button “Grazing with the Elephants”

o Breakfast on Friday, May 13th @ 7a

Sign up now or renew!$8.25 a month or $99 per year!Grassroots Club Membership

Candidate Resource Committee

Purpose The CRC supports Republican candidates in local-level

races.

County Judge, County Commissioner, District Attorney, Sheriff, County Court at Law, County Attorney, Tax Assessor-Collector, Justice of the Peace, Constable, and other miscellaneous partisan local elections.

Collection

During the 2nd SD Caucus

Get a Pin for a $25 donation!

Candidate Resource Committee

Our primary donation targets are the small and

medium population counties in Texas.

A $1,000 donation will go a lot farther in say Cass County or Limestone County as opposed to

Harris or Dallas counties.

Candidates from larger metropolitan counties are

funded on a limited basis in conjunction with the overall

strategy set by the RPT.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Candidate Resource Committee

Candidates applying for CRC funding submit a

written application.

Each applicant must get his/her county chair and/or

one of his/her SREC members to send in a separate, confidential

referral form.

The candidates are then vetted by the CRC at its biannual distribution

meeting.

The candidates who received CRC support won

at a 67% rate in 2014.

HOW WE FUND CANDIDATES

Gala

Friday Night in Convention Center Ballroom A

6p – Cocktails

7p – Dinner & Program

Honorary Chair

Cecilia Abbot, Frist Lady of Texas

Speakers

US Senator Tim Scott, South Carolina

Dinesh D’Souza, Conservative Author & Firebrand

Live Music

Jesse Garza and the Acoustic Dream

Faith & Fellowship Gathering

Morning of worship & prayer

Musical entertainment

Saturday, May 14th @ 7a in the General Session Hall at the Convention Center

$10 per person

Abbott University

Organization Building

Expand your organization and mobilize resources to maximize influence

Advantage Mobile

A comprehensive look at the tools used to organize and utilize data to reach voters

Social Media

Maximize your message and reach on the most effective social media platforms

Voter Registration

Texas Volunteer Deputy Registrar training and certification*

*Check with your county registrar for reciprocity

Exhibitors

Groups

Clubs to Join

Information

Elected Officials & Candidates

Run-Off

Party

Book Signings

Shopping!!! T-Shirts, Buttons, Political memorabilia

Ambassadors, Sgtat Arms, & Pages

Volunteer Opportunities

Ambassadors

Provide information in a warm and friendly manner.

Staff information tables at the host hotels and throughout the convention center.

Help our guests find their way around the convention facility and surrounding area.

Trained to answer basic questions about the convention schedule, room locations, and the surrounding area.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sergeant-at-Arms Help maintain order. Assist each caucus with checking credentials and monitoring

those who enter and exit the rooms. During general sessions, they will be present at each

entrance/section of the arena to direct delegates to their seats, help maintain order and monitor the lights and the microphones during debate.

Serve as primary security for the Hospitality Suite.

Pages Serve as runners, staff caucus rooms, pass out the rules and

platform books, staff committee hearings, and will generally be on call as assistance is needed.

Helpful Hints!

Helpful Hints

Comfortable walking shoes

Phone Accessories Cord, wall plug, & back up battery

pack

*Some charging stations throughout he convention center

Snacks

Cash

Light jacket

Band-Aids

Bottle of water

Pen & Notepad

Bag to carry your items and program etc.

Open Carry

General Dress Code

Patriotic & Comfortable

You may want to take pictures with candidates or elected officials

Comfortable walking shoes

Cannot say it enough!

Dress in layers

Sometimes hot, sometimes cold

Parliamentary Procedure

Floor Parliamentarians

Each floor microphone will have a Floor Parliamentarian and Sargent-at-Arms

The Floor Parliamentarian is there to answer any parliamentary questions and proposed interrupting questions in an effort to resolve the delegate’s questions/concern and avoid unnecessarily disrupting the entire convention

Seek Recognition

In SD/CD Caucus: Delegate rises and addresses the Chair

“Mr./Madam Chairman” The delegate remains standing and awaits

recognition by the Chair In General Session:

Delegate goes to microphone Microphone worker activates

appropriate light for ParliamentaryMotion

The delegate remains standing and awaits recognition by the Chair

Assignment of the Floor

In SD/CD Caucus:

Chair recognizes the delegate

Calls delegate by name or title or nods to the delegate

The delegate gives name and county

In General Session:

The Chair identifies microphone # and type of Motion

The delegate gives name, SD/CD #, County and purpose for which they seek recognition

Chair recognizes the delegate

Lights

At each microphone there is a control panel with four colored lights

Blue light – motions

Green light – speak in favor of motion

Red light – speak against motion

– interrupting Motions

(e.g., Point of Order, Appeal, Request forInformation, Parliamentary Inquiry)

Debate

Discussion or debate is how the convention decides whether a proposed course of action should be followed

Maker of the motion has right to speak first

All remarks must be addressed to the chair (not to other members)

Debate must be confined to the merits of the pending question

Debate

Debate may not exceed five minutes for a Main Motion nor more than three minutes on Amendment or debatable motion subsequently made without general consent of the convention. RPT Rule 17

Debate should alternate between those favoring and those opposing a measure

Debate can be closed by majority vote, or by the Chair if no one seeks the floor for further debate. RPT Rule 16a

Basic Motions

Main Motion

Amend

Limit Debate

Previous Question

Parliamentary Inquiry

Requests Information

Point of Order

Appeal

Main Motion

“I move to (that)…”

If a delegate wants to

bring business before the

assembly, state:

1. inserting or adding words or a paragraph

2. striking out words or a paragraph

3. striking out and inserting words or substituting a paragraph

If a delegate wants to change a motion, move to

Amend by:

Amend

If a delegate wants to change

the rules of debate, move to:

Limit or extend the limits of debate

RPT Rule 17d – Majority Vote

Limit Debate

If a delegate wants to close and end debate, move the:

Previous question

Rule 16a – Majority Vote

Previous Question

Parliamentary Inquiry

To obtain information about

parliamentary law or rules of the

Party, make a

Parliamentary Inquiry

Request for Information

To request information relevant to the business at hand, make a Request

For Information

Point of Order

When inappropriate action has been taken by the convention/caucus or one of its delegates that substantially effects the convention/caucus, a delegate may enforce the rules by making a Point of Order

Appeal

When a delegate disagrees with a parliamentary rulingmade by the Chair andthe ruling substantiallyeffects the convention/caucus

While it is important to every person to knowsomething of parliamentary law, this knowledgeshould be used only to help, not to hinder, business.One who is constantly raising points of order andinsisting upon the strict observance of every rule,makes himself a nuisance, hinders business, andprejudices people against parliamentary law. Sucha person is either ignorant of its real purpose or elsewillfully misuses his knowledge.

Parliamentary Practice

Gen. Henry M. Robert

Alternates being seated as Delegates

Alternates shall be seated for absent delegates in the order listed in the minutes of the SD Convention electing them

or

If instructions are provided by the SD Convention electing such alternates, said instructions shall be followed in the seating of alternates.

RPT Rule No. 26

Q & A

www.texasgop.org

512-477-9821

Republican Party of Texas