Republican Party Convention Overview 2012

What you need to know How to be effective

Harris County Ron Paul

This lecture is primarily focused on Ron Paul supporters living in Harris County.

Ron Paul Support Groups

Meetup: Houston Delegates for Ron Paul

FB: Houston Area Republicans for Ron Paul

Meetup: Houston Area for Ron Paul FB: Ron Paul 2012 Houston (inactive)

Convention Process Primary Election – Qualifies voters to be

delegates to Precinct Convention Precinct Convention – Elects delegates to

the District/County Convention District/County Convention – Elects

delegates to the State Convention State Convention – Elects delegates to the

National Convention, also Electoral College Electors

National Convention – Nominates candidate for President

Register to Vote

Register Right Now, and register your neighbors who will vote for you to become a delegate. !!

http://www.hctax.net/voter/acquirevoterapp.aspx

Deadline is March 3.

Precinct Map (Typ)Notice it does not follow any neighborhood plan…

District MapBefore Judicial Redistricting.

StateDelegates from All Districts…

Handy to have at precinct convention

Clipboard Photocopier 12 neighbors. * These neighbors

don’t have to support Ron Paul. They just have to support you.

Robert’s Rules of Order Cheat Sheet.http://www.robertsrules.org/

Find Maps of Districts and Open Precincts at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/HoustonAreaforRonPaul

FB: Houston Area for Ron Paul

Who Are All These People And What Do They Do?

Precinct Chair – elected for a 2 year term on the primary ballot, neighborhood party rep

Election Judge – election official for the primary election, usually the Precinct Chair

Convention Chair Temporary Chair – calls the convention to order Permanent Chair – elected to chair the

convention for that evening, usually the Temporary Chair is elected

These can all be the same person, or can be as many as 4 different people

Step 1: Primary Election

If you want to run for Precinct Chair in your precinct, contact the party now to get on the ballot!

Register to vote now, deadline is 30 days before the primary election

You must vote in order to be eligible to be a delegate to your Precinct Convention

Working at the polls or turning out the vote will not hinder you at the convention and is encouraged

Step 2: Precinct Convention

Primary Election Night after polls close (Around 7:00 p.m.)

Who Can Participate? Anyone from the precinct who voted in the

primary, either that day or in early voting Attend the convention or your voice is silent!

What Happens? Choose Permanent Convention Chairman Choose delegates to District/County

Convention Pass Resolutions

Why go to your Precinct Convention?

If you don’t go, you won’t be going to your District/County Convention!

If you can’t go to your District/County Convention, elect your Constitution-minded neighbors as delegates

Meet politically active people from your neighborhood

Learn how a convention is run Be a positive influence for liberty

issues

Precinct Convention: Chairman Temporary Chair

Appoints Temporary Secretary Verifies Credentials are checked Holds Permanent Officers Elections

Permanent Chair Gives Senate District Convention Info Conducts Delegate Selection Elections Presides over Consideration of

Resolutions

Precinct Convention: Choosing Delegates

Select delegates who are serious about attending District/County Convention

Don’t overlook Alternate Delegates – they still get to go to the District/County Convention!

Fill out delegate and alternate forms COMPLETELY!LEGIBLY!

Exchange e-mails/phone numbers

Door Knockin

Use a list of Ron Paul donors in your precinct, and contact each one personally. Use the 2008 and 2012 list.

Ask other Republicans in your precinct to vote for you. “ I will elect whoever is most likely to defeat Obama.”

Stay away from “End the Fed” like topics until the state convention.

Strategy

Take your 12 to 15 friends to the Precinct Primary with you to vote for you. Ask Houston Area Republicans for Ron Paul for a list of Ron Paul donors in your precinct.

If there are not many Ron Paul supporters in your precinct, have your friends vote to leave any remaining delegate positions open.

Becoming a Precinct Chairman

Keep your affiliation to Ron Paul silent until the state convention.

Download the Precinct Chair Filling formhttp://www.harriscountygop.com/documents/Pct_Chair_Filing_Form_2012.pdf

Have it notarized. Deliver it or mail it certified

signature.

Calling the Harris County GOP (HCRP)

Do not mention affiliation to Ron Paul. Script – “This is the most important

election of my lifetime. I want to get Republicans out to vote so we can defeat Barak Obama.”

“ I will vote for whoever is most likely to defeat Barak Obama in the general election.”

Harris County Republican Party3311 Richmond, Suite 218Houston, Texas 77098 (map)713-838-7900 

Precinct Maps

http://www.dataheaven.com/hcrp/pctchairs.htm

Contact the HCRP for a complete list of Republicans by precinct (who voted in the last election).

Precinct Convention Resolutions

Anyone at a Precinct Convention can submit a resolution

This is the first step for collecting inputs to revise the state party platform

Most of these inputs fall into a black hole Be careful!

People will notice what issues your resolution addresses – and these people pick State delegates!

Don’t mark yourself as a poor choice as a delegate to the State Convention if you want to go that far

Know the territory – learn who your current Precinct Chairman is and meet them

Visit with Election officials early – they may end up appointing you Temporary Precinct Convention Chair!

Know your convention location – ASK! Be early or on time to convention Bring ten friends – the more, the merrier Read Convention sample script ahead of

time Bring at least three copies of resolutions

Precinct Convention Strategies

Convention “Dirty Tricks” Fortunately, these are becoming less common Robert’s Rules of Order is on your side – don’t let

anyone abuse the rules to take advantage of you Don’t let anyone elect a “slate” of delegates Don’t let anyone close nominations for delegates

until everyone you want to nominate is nominated

If you find the chair is doing something wrong, stand up, raise your hand, and say, “Mr. (or Ms.) Chairman, Point of Order!”

Then give a simple but concise explanation of the problem (and the proper action if you know what it is)

Don’t leave until the convention is over (adjourned)

Step 3: Senate District Convention

Senate District or County Conventions All GOP Senate Districts (big counties) or Counties (small

ones) All day Saturday

Who Can Participate? ONLY those selected at Precinct Convention Both Delegates and Alternate Delegates can go Only “seated” (replacements for absent Delegates) Alternates

can vote

What Happens? Same as Precinct Conventions, only bigger and with more

speeches Elect Permanent Senate/County Convention officers Select Delegates to State Convention Pass Resolutions (amalgamated from Precinct

Conventions)

District/County Convention: Basic Agenda

Appoint Temporary Officers Temp Committee Reports and Roll Call of Precincts Elect Permanent Chair/Appoint Officers Appoint Permanent Committees Select Delegates for State Convention

Didn’t get picked? Beg the Nominations Committee for an At-Large Delegate or At-Large Alternate position!

Permanent Committee Reports Nominations Committee report gives final roll of Delegates to

State Convention When the Nominations Committee report is approved, that list

is final! Resolutions Committee report is usually the most contentious

District/County Convention: Committees

Arrangements – Deals with venue issues, who uses which room

Registration – Runs the registration tables Credentials

Settles disputes when someone is accused of not being a properly elected delegate

Dispute over the Credentials Committee report nearly brought the 2008 State Convention to a standstill

Rules – Proposes additions to Robert’s Rules to make the convention run more smoothly

Finance – Just what you think it means, conventions aren’t free!

Nominations – Determines who will go to the State Convention

Resolutions – Collates all the Precinct Convention resolutions

District/County Convention: Strategies

Network with delegates from other precincts in your district/county

Contact District/County Chair to volunteer Work on committees if possible – be

prepared for a lot of work! Brush up on parliamentary procedure Bring supplies

Book etc. Snacks – Lunch is usually sold at the

convention site Notepad and Paper Business Cards

Step 4: State Convention GOP – June 7-9 – Fort Worth Thursday

General Session Welcome, Speeches, Speeches, Speeches

Texas State Senate District Caucuses Elect permanent chairs and members of

permanent committeesPermanent Committee MeetingsReceptions/ Socials

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State Convention: Continued

Friday Senate District Caucus Meetings – Elect State

Republican Executive Committee Reps, State Leadership (Chair, Vice Chair, Republican National Committeeman/woman)

Congressional District Caucus Meetings – Elect Nominations Committee

General Session – Hours of campaign ads just for you

Speakers…and more Speakers…and more Speakers

Receptions/ Socials – these are good networking opportunities

Banquet with Keynote $peaker – ticketholders only

State Convention: Continued Saturday

Congressional District Caucuses – Elect National Convention Delegates, Alternates, Electoral College Electors

General Session Adoption of Platform Committee Reports

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State Convention Strategies

Book Your Room Early Read Current Platform & Rules Contact Temporary Committees for

addressing issues beforehand Dress Comfortably Bring Snacks/ Drinks Take Notes Don’t feel like you have to be on the floor

for every single minute of the proceedings

Roberts Rules or Order

http://www.robertsrules.com/inbrief.html

Let’s Role Play

Break into groups and hold mock precinct conventions.