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A. ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS

1. Call for Meeting

In every year, the County Chairman shall call Precinct Meetings during the month of February or the first 10 days of March, after giving 10 days written notice to each Precinct Chairman, and that the Precinct Chairs also be informed as to the number of registered Republicans entitled to cast votes at the Precinct Meeting, and in accordance with Article VII, A.3. Failure of the County Chairman to act in compliance with the provision above shall be cause for any Member of the County Executive Committee to call said Precinct Meetings by notice in a newspaper of general circulation within the County as provided for in Article VII, A.3. Every Republican registered prior to January 31 preceding the Meetings shall be entitled to cast 1 vote, except that the January 31 requirement shall not apply to residents who have moved into the Precinct within 30 days of the Precinct Meeting.

2. Election of Precinct Officers

At odd-year Precinct Meetings, at which a quorum is one person, attendees shall elect a Precinct Committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and as many Members-at-Large as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Precinct. Members of the Precinct Committee shall hold their offices for 2 years or until their successors are chosen. There shall be no proxy voting.

3. Election of Delegates

The annual Precinct Meetings shall elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to the County Convention. They shall also elect 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 50 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election in the Precinct.

4. Duties of Officers

The Chairman and Secretary of each Precinct shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, and Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention, on forms stipulated by the State Central Committee and furnished by the County Chairman. Complete credentials shall be in the hands of the County Secretary by the deadline set by the County Chairman, which shall be at least 2 days prior to the Credentials Committee Meeting, unless the Precinct Meetings and the County Convention are held on the same day. No Delegate or Alternate shall be added to the Credentials List following the adjournment of the Precinct Meeting.

5. Other Precinct Meetings

(a) Other Meetings of the Precinct general Membership may be held at such time as shall be designated by the Chairman of the Precinct Committee after giving 5 days notice of such Meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the County or upon similar call of 1/3 of the Members of the Precinct Committee, or 10 Members of the general Precinct Membership. There shall be no proxy voting.

(b) In the event a Precinct fails to properly organize or the Precinct Chairman fails to act, the County Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Precinct Chairman to serve until a general Membership Meeting can be called and a new Chairman elected.

B. PRECINCT COMMITTEE

1. Duties of Committee

The Precinct Committee shall cooperate with the County Executive Committee in all elections and Party activities, provide the County Chairman with a list of Party Members within the Precinct suitable for appointment as Election Officials, and promote the objectives of the Party within the Precinct.

2. Duties of Officers

The Chairman of the Precinct Committee, with the advice and consent of the Precinct Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the Precinct, shall preside at all Meetings of the Precinct, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Precinct Committee or the County Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records and shall maintain a list of registered Republican voters and workers within the Precinct, unless otherwise provided by the Precinct Committee or the County Executive Committee.

3. Vacancies and Removals

(a) Vacancy due to death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the Precinct, removal of any Officer, or Member of the Precinct Committee, or other vacancy, shall be filled by the remaining Members of the Precinct Committee.

(b) The procedure for removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article VII, A.6. Such removal maybe appealed to the County Executive Committee within 20 days and their decision shall be final.

ARTICLE III

COUNTY ORGANIZATION

A. ANNUAL CONVENTION

1. Call of Convention

(a) A County Convention shall be called every year by the Chairman of the County Executive Committee, at a suitable location within the county, within the month of March, at least 10 days prior to the scheduled District Convention, and following procedures given in Article VII, A.

(b) At the time of the call of the Convention, the County Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee, which will meet and issue its report on Delegates and Alternates certified to that Convention at least 3 days in advance of the convening of the Convention, unless a County holds its Precinct Meetings and County Convention on the same day. All Delegates and Alternates challenged in the report of the Credentials Committee shall be notified prior to the day of the Convention and allowed to present their case to the Credentials Committee prior to the convening of the Convention. The Delegates and Alternates elected at the Precinct Meetings, unless successfully challenged, shall sit as Delegates and Alternates to the County Convention.

(c) If the County Chairman fails, refuses or neglects to call a County Convention as required by this Article, it shall become the duty of the Vice-Chairman to act in this capacity. The Vice-Chairman shall give 5 days notice thereof to all Precinct Chairmen and County Executive Committee Members and shall follow procedures given in Article VII, A. If the County Chairman or Vice-Chairman does not call such a Meeting, it shall be cause for any Member of the County Executive Committee, with the approval of the Congressional District Chairman, or Chairmen, to call such County Convention.

2. Convention Action

(a) The County Convention shall adopt or amend a written County Plan of Organization not inconsistent with this State Plan of Organization, a current copy of which shall be on file at County Headquarters and at State Headquarters.

(b) Elections

(i) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other Officers as may be deemed necessary, who shall serve for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected.

(ii) In every odd-numbered year the County Convention shall elect a County Executive Committee of 5 or more voters, in addition to the County Officers, who shall hold their places for a term of 2 years or until their successors are elected. The County Executive Committee may elect additional Members of the County Executive Committee in addition to those Members of the County Executive Committee elected by the County Convention.

(iii) The County Convention shall, in accordance with the County Plan of Organization, elect 1 Delegate and 1 Alternate to Congressional District and State Conventions, plus 1 additional Delegate and Alternate for every 200 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election in said county. Each County shall further elect 1 Delegate and Alternate for each Republican elected to the state legislature and to public office on the state or national level from said County in the last election held for that office.

(iv) If a County has been divided between 2 or more Congressional Districts, it shall prorate its Delegate vote among these Congressional Districts in accordance with the votes cast for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in the last election in the political subdivisions within the County which have been divided among the different Congressional Districts. Delegates elected to a Congressional District Convention, in addition to the other qualifications which they must meet, must reside in the Congressional District to whose Convention they are elected. The Delegates to the County Convention from the political subdivisions in different Congressional Districts shall elect the Delegates to their own Congressional District Convention

3. Credentials

The Chairman and Secretary of the County Executive Committee shall certify the election of Officers, Committee Members, Delegates and Alternates to the District and State Conventions, on forms furnished by the State Central Committee and in conformance with Article VII. Completed Credentials shall be in the hands of the Congressional District Secretary and the State Headquarters by the deadline set by the State Chairman. All County Credentials for the State Convention should be mailed to State Headquarters no later than 10 days following the date of the County Convention or the deadline set by the State Chairman, whichever date comes first. Copies of all newspaper notices shall be submitted to the NC Republican Party along with County Credentials. No Delegates or Alternates shall be added to the Credentials list following the adjournment of the County Convention

4. Convention Fee

For each person who is elected at a County Convention to be either a Delegate or an Alternate to the State Convention, the County shall forward to the State Party a fee set by the State Central Committee to defray the costs of mailing Convention materials to such elected Delegates and Alternates. The County Party may recover this fee from the Delegates and Alternates following their election.

B. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Membership

The County Executive Committee shall consist of County Officers elected in the County Convention; the Chairman from each Precinct, or his designate, who must be a member of the same Precinct, all elected incumbent Republican Office Holders residing within the County; the President of the Catawba County Republican Women�s Club; the President of the Catawba County Republican Men�s Forum; the Chairman of the Catawba County Young Republican�s Club; the County Finance Chairman; and the immediate past Chairman of the Executive Committee. Any person, not a Member of the Executive Committee, present and desiring to speak on any issue brought before the Committee shall be allowed to do so upon recognition by the Chairman, or, upon his refusal to so recognize, upon a majority vote of the Executive Committee, but the Speaker shall have no vote or, any issue put to a vote.

2. Powers and Duties

The County Executive Committee shall cooperate with the District and State Committees in all elections and Party activities; shall encourage qualified candidates for office within the County; shall adopt a budget; and shall recommend nominees to the State Chairman for appointments for County Board of Election; and shall have active management of Party affairs within the County. It shall approve a Finance Committee and an Auditing Committee of not less than 3 Members each and may approve such other Committees as may be deemed necessary. The County Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be Ex-officio Members of all Committees indicated in this paragraph. In the event that it is determined that the County Plan of Organization is not consistent with the State Party Plan of Organization, the County Executive Committee must at the next called meeting bring the County Plan of Organization into compliance with the State Party Plan of Organization. Under any circumstances, the County Plan of Organization must be brought into compliance within 90 days. The County Executive Committee may amend the County Plan of Organization upon a 2/3 vote after providing notice of the meeting advising members regarding the substance of the proposed amendment and provided a quorum is present.

3. Meetings

The County Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year upon call of the County Chairman after giving 10 days notice to all Members; or upon similar call of 1/3 of the Members of the Committee. 1/3 of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. There shall be no proxy voting.

4. Duties of Officers

(a) The Chairman of the County Executive Committee, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the County. The Chairman shall issue the call for Precinct Meetings and the County Convention, and Executive Committee Meetings, and shall preside at all the Meetings of the County Executive Committee. The Chairman shall appoint a Finance Chairman, Auditing Committee and any other Chairman deemed necessary to conduct the business of the County Executive Committee. The Chairman shall further appoint a Temporary Chairman of the County Convention, who may be himself. The Chairman shall make periodic reports on the status of the Party within his County to the District Chairman. The Chairman shall be responsible for the creation and maintenance of a Republican organization in every Precinct within his County. The Chairman shall obtain and preserve a list of all registered Republicans within the County and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the County, District, or State Committees; the County Chairman shall be an "Ex-officio" Member of all Committees unless otherwise designated in the County Plan of Organization.

(b) The Vice-Chairman shall function as Chairman in the absence of the Chairman and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the County Executive Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall be an "Ex-officio" Member of all Committees unless otherwise designated in the County Plan of Organization.

(c) The Secretary shall keep all minutes and records and shall maintain a roster of all Precinct Officers and Executive Committee Members. Such records shall be available, including all Credentials Lists upon request, to any registered Republican within the County. The Secretary shall furnish to the Congressional District Chairman and to State Headquarters up-to-date lists of all Precinct Chairmen.

(d) The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds for Party expenditures pursuant to authority duly given by the County Executive Committee, shall make a financial report at all County Executive Committee Meetings and shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws.

5. Vacancies and Removals

(a) In case of death, resignation, discontinuance of residency within the County, removal of any Officer or Member of the County Executive Committee, or other vacancy, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the County Executive Committee.

(b) The procedure for removal of any Member or Officer is defined in Article VII, A.6. Such removal may be appealed to the State Central Committee within 20 days and their decision shall be final.

C. COUNTY FINANCE AND AUDITING COMMITTEES

1. Finance Committee

The County Finance Committee shall be composed of the County Finance Chairman, the County Chairman, County Vice-Chairman, the County Treasurer, and not less than 3 persons approved by the County Executive Committee. They shall cooperate with the Congressional District and State Finance Committees and shall have active management of fund-raising efforts within the County.

2. Auditing Committee

The Auditing Committee, appointed by the County Chairman, shall conduct a yearly audit of the financial records of the County and report such audit to the County Executive Committee for approval.

D. STEERING COMMITTEE

There shall be a Steering Committee consisting of not less than eight (8) nor more than fourteen (14) persons, nominated by the County Chairman and appointed by the Executive Committee to serve at the Executive Committee�s pleasure.

This Committee will include at least two elected officials and should have a county-wide representation. It shall be the duty of the Steering Committee to advise the Chairman on all matters pertaining to the day to day operations of the Republican Party in Catawba County and to act for the Executive Committee on matters that must be decided when time does not permit the ten (10) days notice for a called Executive Committee Meeting. All County Officers will be �Ex-Officio� members of the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE IV

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE

A. PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Any person may file for any elective office for which he/she is legally eligible. Primary elections will be regarded and treated by the Catawba County Republican Party as personal contests between Party Members.

Party Officers and elected office holders are encouraged not to take sides during the Primary Campaign.

Any activities of the type connoting support by any of the Party�s Officers or elected Officials is not to be construed as an endorsement of or support of the Republican Party of Catawba County.

B. GENERAL ELECTIONS

Republican candidates for elective office in general elections will receive as near equal financial support as deemed practical and feasible by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee in making its decisions on financial support will give consideration to the needs of all the candidates on the ballot, the amount of funds available, and the best and least expensive manner of utilization of available resources. The primary objective being to elect all the Republican candidates.

ARTICLE V

POLITICAL PATRONAGE AND APPOINTMENTS

It shall be the duty of the County Chairman and Executive Committee to inform all registered Republicans in the County, by advising the Precinct Officials, of any and all politically appointed jobs promptly when such appointive jobs become available. County Executive Committee recommendation is suggested for every single specific applicant for any specific job. The Chairman shall call a Meeting of the Executive Committee by giving ten (10) days written notice by mail, setting forth the purpose of the Meeting in the notification. Each applicant, for an appointive job requiring Executive Committee approval, will submit his application in writing to the Committee and be allowed a minimum ten (10) minutes to personally appear before the Executive Committee for the purpose of presenting his application.

The purpose of this section is to establish procedures that will insure that all Republicans will have a fair hearing and that none will be ignored. All Executive Committee Meetings must be attended by one-third of the elected Committee Members in order to transact legal and binding business. There will be no voting by proxy.

ARTICLE VI

PARTY SOCIAL FUNCTIONS

No general Party funds will be used to purchase alcoholic beverages or �set-ups� (mix ingredients) of any sort at Meetings or Social Functions sponsored by the Catawba County Republican Party.

Lincoln Day Dinner: The County Chairman shall annually appoint a Lincoln Day Dinner Chairman and Committee for the purpose of arranging a Lincoln Day Dinner to be held at the time deemed most appropriate.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

A. CONVENTION PROCEDURES

1. Annual Conventions and Presidential Election Year Conventions

The County Convention shall be called to order by the Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, by the Vice-Chairman or Secretary, in order slated, who shall have the power to appoint the necessary Convention Committees and Temporary Officers at or before the convening of the Convention.

2. Voting Procedure

(a) No Precinct shall cast more votes than it has duly elected Delegates on the floor at the County Convention.

(b) No person shall be seated as a Delegate at the County Convention unless such person shall have been duly elected a Delegate or Alternate by the appropriate Precinct Meeting; except, the registered Republican or Republicans, present at the County Convention from an unorganized Precinct, which has not had its credentials accepted, shall have the right to vote 1 vote per Precinct, prorated among those present from that Precinct.

(d) Ex-officio members of the committees have the same voting rights as the other committee members, and are not counted in determining if a quorum is present. When an Ex-officio member of a committee ceases to hold the office that entitles him/her to such membership, his/her membership terminates automatically.

3. Newspaper of General Circulation

Notice published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County for the purpose of this Plan of Organization shall include either a paid advertisement or a news item, provided it includes the time, date, location and purpose of the Meeting. Such notices shall appear in the newspaper at least 10 days prior to the Meeting or Convention. This in no way relieves the Chairman of the responsibility of the notice.

4. Challenges

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan of Organization, challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made in their capacity as individual Delegates. The successful challenges to Delegates and Alternates must be made individually as to their capacity as Delegates and Alternates. The successful challenges of individuals in their capacity as Delegates and Alternates shall not affect the seating of other Delegates and Alternates in the same Precinct unless it can be demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the previous election of such successfully challenged Delegates and Alternates resulted in the

election of other Delegates and Alternates within such Delegation who would not otherwise have been elected, but for the votes of the unqualified Delegates or Alternates.

5. General Election Procedure

Notwithstanding any other Article in this Plan of Organization, the allocated Delegate slots and then the allocated Alternate slots allotted under this Plan of Organization to a Precinct or Convention shall be filled first by the election of those duly qualified registered Republicans, eligible to vote, present at such Meeting or Convention and desiring to be elected to fill such slots. All duly qualified Republicans registered to vote may be elected

by qualified Republicans attending the meeting to fill slots that have not been filled by Republicans attending the meeting or conventions.

6. Vacancies and Removals

(a) Any Member of a Committee organized under this Plan may be removed by a 2/3�s vote of the respective Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him, signed by not less than 1/3 of the Members of the Committee. Any Republican against whom charges are brought shall be furnished with 2 weeks notice of said charges and be given an opportunity to present a defense. Removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty or failure to comply with the County, District, or State Party Plans of Organization.

(b) For the purposes of this Plan of Organization, "Party disloyalty" shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another Party or independent candidate running in opposition to a nominee of the Republican Party.

B. OFFICIAL RECORDS

Minutes shall be kept by all Committees and Conventions of official actions taken, and a copy shall be filed with the Chairman of the appropriate Committee or Convention.

C. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

1. Records

The Chairman, Treasurer, and Finance Chairman of the County shall keep faithful and accurate records of any and all monies received by them for the use of the said Committees and shall make faithful and accurate reports thereof when so requested.

2. Loans

No officer, staff or member of the Party shall cause the Party to undertake a loan without the prior approval of the Executive Committee.

3. Budgeted Expenses

No officer or member of the Party shall exceed approved total budgeted expenditures without approval from the Executive Committee.

4. Leases

No officer or member of the Party shall commit the Party to a lease in excess of $10,000 or 90 days without the approval of the Executive Committee.

D. APPOINTMENTS

1. Notification

It shall be the duty of the Chairman to transmit notice of known vacancies on a County level to those persons having jurisdiction over such appointments.

2. Filling Vacancies

When a vacancy occurs in a governmental office for which a Party recommendation is called for, such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina.

E. FORFEITURE OF OFFICIAL PRIVILEGES

1. Removal or Resignation from Committees

Any current or former Officer or Member of a Precinct Committee or County Executive Committee who, for any reason, is removed or resigns from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way connected with that position.

2. Party Disloyalty

Any registered Republican using a current or former title as a Party or elected official on the Republican ticket to influence the outcome of any election against a Republican Nominee may be declared ineligible to hold office under the State Plan of Organization at the State, District, and Precinct level for Party disloyalty by 2/3 vote of the State Executive Committee. Charges of Party disloyalty may be brought by petition of 50 members of the State Executive Committee, or by resolution of a County or District Republican Executive Committee. The State Executive Committee may declare a Republican found to have engaged in Party disloyalty as ineligible to serve in any office under this Plan of Organization for a period of time between 6 months and 5 years.

1. The Plan of Organization may be amended, not inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican National Committee, by majority vote of the delegates present and voting at any County Convention provided, however, that the proposed amendment was mailed to the membership of the County Executive Committee at least thirty days prior to the convening of the County Convention.

2. Amendments from the Convention floor to the proposed Amendments to the Plan (an amendment to the amendment) which would materially alter the intent of the original proposed amendment must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any State Convention. This paragraph applies only to amendments to Amendments to the Plan that were mailed out to the Executive Committee as above described.

3. Proposed amendments to the Plan not mailed to the Executive Committee thirty days prior to the convening of the Convention must receive a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting at any Convention.

Robert�s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except when inconsistent with this State Plan of Organization or Convention Rules properly adopted.

The masculine pronoun or title herein includes the feminine, and the singular herein includes the plural, wherever appropriate.

This Plan of Organization shall become effective and repeal and supersede all other rules, except as specifically noted, immediately following adjournment of the County Convention in Newton, North Carolina, on March 10, 2002. This, however, shall not invalidate any action taken under the previous rules prior to the date above. The adoption of this Plan shall not effect the term of those office holders at the time of the adoption of this Plan.