Rules Of The Republican Party
Adopted by the 1996 Republican National Convention August 12, 1996
PREAMBLE
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Republican Party is the party of the open door. Ours is the party of liberty, the party of equality of opportunity for all and favoritism for none.
It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage and allow the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open and accessible to all Americans.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the following be and they hereby are adopted as The Rules of the Republican Party, comprised of the rules of business of this national convention, the rules for the election and government of the Republican National Committee until the next national convention, the rules under which delegates and alternate delegates shall be allotted to the respective states in the next national convention, and the rules under which such delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected and under which contests shall be considered.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION
RULE NO. 1 Order of Business
The convention shall proceed in the order of business prepared and printed by the Republican National Committee.
RULE NO. 2 Committee Reports
(a) The report of the Committee on Credentials shall be disposed of before the report of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business is acted upon, the report of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business shall be disposed of before the report of the Committee on Resolutions is acted upon, and the report of the Committee on Resolutions shall be disposed of before the convention proceeds to the nomination of candidates for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States.
(b) The report of any such committee listed in Rule No. 2(a) shall be considered as read if made available to the delegates prior to its consideration.
RULE NO. 3 Definition of "States"
Whenever used in these rules, "state" or "states" shall be taken to include American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, except in Rule No. 31 and unless the context in which the word "state" or "states" is used clearly makes such inclusion inappropriate.
RULE NO. 4 Admission to Convention Hall
(a) No person except members of the several delegations, officers of the convention, members of the Republican National Committee and, beginning at the 1992 Republican National Convention, incumbent Republican governors, incumbent Republican United States Senators, and incumbent Republican members of the United States House of Representatives, shall be admitted to the section of the convention hall restricted to delegates.
(b) Press and staff shall be admitted to the section(s) of the hall authorized for them.
(c) The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall insure that guest passes to the convention are distributed in an equitable fashion. Each delegate and alternate delegate to the convention shall receive at least one guest pass to each session of the convention.
RULE NO. 5 Voting
(a) Each delegate to the convention shall be entitled to one (1) vote, which may be cast by an alternate delegate in the absence of the delegate.
(b) In the absence of any delegate at large or any delegate from any congressional district, the roll of alternate delegates for the state or district shall be called in the order in which the names are placed upon the roll of the convention, unless the law governing the state or district electing the absent delegate, the state or district convention, or the Republican state committee or governing committee shall otherwise provide, or the delegation shall otherwise direct at the time of certification, in which event the alternate delegates from the state or district shall vote in the order established pursuant to the foregoing, as set forth in the delegation's certification. The form of certificate provided by the Republican National Committee shall provide a means by which an order for voting by alternate delegates may therein be specified.
RULE NO. 6 Rules of Order
The Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States shall be the rules of the convention, except that the Scott, Foresman Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 9th edition, ("Robert's Rules of Order"), shall be the rules for committees and subcommittees of the convention, insofar as they are applicable and not inconsistent with the rules herein set forth; provided, however, that the convention may adopt its own rules concerning the reading of committee reports and resolutions.
RULE NO. 7 Length of Debate
No delegate shall speak more than once or longer than five (5) minutes upon the same question, unless by leave of the convention, except in the presentation of the name of a candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States.
RULE NO. 8 Suspension of Rules
A motion to suspend the rules shall always be in order but only when made by authority of a majority of the delegates from any state and seconded by a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more other states severally.
RULE NO. 9 Platform Resolutions
All proposed resolutions relating to the platform shall be submitted in writing to the Committee on Resolutions without reading and without debate.
RULE NO. 10 Minority Reports; Amendments
(a) No resolution or amendment pertaining to the report of the Committee on Resolutions or the Committee on Rules and Order of Business shall be reported out or made a part of any report of such committee or otherwise read or debated before the convention, unless the same shall have been submitted to the chairman, vice chairman, or secretary of such committee or to the secretary of the convention in writing not later than one hour after the time at which such committee votes on its report to the convention and shall have been accompanied by a petition evidencing the affirmative written support of a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of such committee.
(b) No amendment pertaining to the report of the Committee on Credentials affecting delegates or alternate delegates from more than one (1) state shall be in order.
RULE NO. 11 Motion to Table
It shall be in order to lay on the table a proposed amendment to a pending measure and such motion, if adopted, shall not carry with it or prejudice such original measure.
RULE NO. 12 Previous Question
When the previous question shall be demanded by a majority of the delegates from any state, and the demand is likewise seconded by a majority of delegates from each of two (2) or more other states severally, and the call is sustained by a majority of the delegates to the convention, the question shall then be proceeded with and disposed of according to the Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States in similar cases.
RULE NO. 13 Roll Call
(a) Upon all subjects before the convention requiring a roll call, the states shall be called in alphabetical order.
(b) In the balloting, the vote of each state shall be announced by the chairman of such state's delegation; and in case the vote of any state shall be divided, the chairman shall announce the number of votes for each candidate, or for or against any proposition; but if exception is taken by any delegate from that state to the correctness of such announcement by the chairman of that delegation, the chairman of the convention shall direct the roll of members of such delegation to be called, and the result shall be recorded in accordance with the vote of the several delegates in such delegation.
(c) In balloting, if any delegation shall pass when its name is called, then at the conclusion of the roll call all delegations which passed shall be called in the order herein before established and no delegation shall be allowed to change its vote until all delegations which passed shall have been given a second opportunity to vote.
(d) Except in a roll call for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States, or where the majority of delegates of fifteen (15) or more states severally have requested that a roll call be conducted by voice call of the roll, the chairman of the convention may order that the balloting on any subject placed before the convention requiring a roll call be conducted by electronic, telephonic or computer device which will display votes to the convention simultaneously. Each delegation chairman shall record and tally any such votes of the delegation on official roll call tally sheets provided by the secretary of the convention, showing the individual vote of the delegates, and file such tally sheets with the secretary of the convention not more than thirty (30) minutes after the completion of the roll call vote.
RULE NO. 14 Unit Rule
No delegate or alternate delegate shall be bound by any attempt of any state or congressional district to impose the unit rule.
RULE NO. 15 Record Vote
If a majority of the delegates of any six (6) states severally shall demand a roll call vote, the same shall be taken of the states in the order hereinbefore established.
RULE NO. 16 Nominations
(a) In making the nominations for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States and voting thereon, the roll of the states shall be called, separately in each case; provided, however, that if there is only one candidate for nomination for Vice President of the United States who has demonstrated the support required by paragraph (b) of this rule, a motion to nominate for such office by acclamation shall be in order and no calling of the roll with respect to such office shall be required.
(b) Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination.
(c) The total time of the nominating speech and seconding speeches for any candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes.
(d) When it appears at the close of a roll call that any candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States has received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention, the chairman of the convention shall declare that the candidate has been nominated.
(e) If no candidate shall have received such majority, the chairman of the convention shall direct the roll of the states be called again and shall repeat the calling of the roll until a candidate shall have received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention.
RULE NO. 17 Convention Committees
(a) The delegates elected to the convention from each state, immediately after they are elected, shall elect from the delegation a delegation chairman and their members of the Committees on Resolutions, Credentials, Rules and Order of Business, and Permanent Organization of the convention, consisting of one (1) man and one (1) woman for each committee, and shall file notice of such selection with the secretary of the Republican National Committee; provided, however, that no delegate may serve on more than one (1) committee of the convention; except that the delegates from each of American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands shall select as hereinabove provided one (1) member of each such committee. Alternate delegates may not serve as delegation chairman or members of the convention committees.
(b) Committees and subcommittees may set time limits for speaking on any question by a simple majority vote; provided, however, that not less than twenty (20) minutes, equally divided between proponents and opponents on any question, shall be allowed in any case on any debatable motion, order, or appeal.
(c) Upon request of one-fifth (1/5) of the members of a committee or subcommittee of the convention, a vote shall be recorded in the manner provided by these rules, and no votes in the committees or subcommittees of the convention shall be taken by secret ballot.
(d) Members of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business shall be provided, one (1) month prior to the national convention, a copy of the existing Rules of the Republican Party along with all recommended changes to those rules approved by the Republican National Committee since the previous national convention. Any changes shall be noted in bold type. After this information is provided, any additional recommendations regarding changes in The Rules of the Republican Party approved by the Republican National Committee shall be provided to the members of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business as soon as practicable.
RULE NO. 18 Temporary Rules
Rules No. 1 through No. 17 shall be the temporary rules of the next national convention and its committees and subcommittees.
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
RULE NO. 19 Organization of the Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee shall have the general management of the Republican Party, subject to direction from the national convention. The members of the Republican National Committee shall consist of one (1) national committeeman and one (1) national committeewoman from, and the chairman of the state Republican Party of, each state.
RULE NO. 20 Method of Election
(a) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, they shall be elected pursuant to such method.
(b) Where the rules adopted by a state Republican Party do not provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, and where state laws do provide such a method of election, they shall be elected pursuant to such method provided by state laws.
(c) Where neither the rules adopted by a state Republican Party nor state laws provide a method of election of the national committeeman and the national committeewoman, the national convention delegation from such state shall elect them.
(d) At each convention, the roll shall be called and the delegation from each state shall report through the chairman of the delegation the names of the elected national committee members whose election shall be ratified by the convention if otherwise in accordance with these rules.
RULE NO. 21 Term of Office
(a) National committeemen and national committeewomen shall serve from the adjournment of the national convention until the adjournment of the following national convention, and until their successors shall have been elected and ratified.
(b) The duly elected and acting chairman of each state Republican Party shall be a member of the Republican National Committee during his or her term in office.
RULE NO. 22 Vacancies
(a) Election of members to fill vacancies in the Republican National Committee shall be ratified by the Republican National Committee upon their election by the state Republican Party in and for the state in which the vacancy occurs.
(b) The Republican National Committee shall have the power to declare vacant the seat of any member who refuses to support the Republican nominee for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States.
(c) In the event of the death, resignation, disqualification, or disability of any officer or committee member of the Republican National Committee, as enumerated in Rule No. 23 and Rule No. 29, such vacancy shall be filled by the same body and in the same manner as provided therein for the election of such officer or officers or committee members in the first instance.
RULE NO. 23 Officers of the Republican National Committee
(a) The officers of the Republican National Committee shall consist of:
(1) A chairman and a co-chairman of the opposite sex who shall be elected by the members of the Republican National Committee. Except as otherwise ordered by a majority of the members of the Republican National Committee present and voting on the matter, the chairman and the co-chairman shall be full-time, paid employees of the Republican National Committee. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Republican National Committee. The chairman or co- chairman may be removed from office only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Republican National Committee.
(2) Eight (8) vice chairmen, comprising one (1) man and one (1) woman from each of the following four (4) regions:
The Western States Association: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming;
The Midwestern States Association: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin;
The Northeastern States Association: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Virgin Islands; and
The Southern States Association: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
(3) A secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as the Republican National Committee shall deem necessary, all to be elected by the Republican National Committee.
(b) The chairman, co-chairman, and all other officers shall be elected in January of each odd-numbered year. All officers except the vice chairmen shall be nominated from the floor, and candidates must have at least two (2) votes in three (3) states in order to have their names put in nomination. There shall be no nominating committee.
(c) The eight (8) vice chairmen shall be elected at regional caucuses by the Republican National Committee members of the four (4) regions and shall be residents of and Republican National Committee members from their respective regions. The election shall take place in January of each odd- numbered year commencing in January 1997. The election of vice chairmen shall not require confirmation by the Republican National Committee.
(d) The chairman shall appoint a general counsel for the Republican National Committee and a chairman of the Republican Finance Committee, both of whom shall be confirmed by the Republican National Committee.
RULE NO. 24. Executive Committee
(a) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee to consist of eleven (11) members of the Republican National Committee, three (3) to be appointed by the chairman, to serve at the will of the chairman and whose terms shall be coterminous with that of the chairman, and eight (8) additional members to consist of one (1) man and one (1) woman elected by and from each of the four (4) regional caucuses. In addition, the following shall serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee: the chairman, the co-chairman, the vice chairmen, the secretary, the treasurer, the general counsel, the chairman of the Republican Finance Committee, the chairman of the Republican State Chairmen's Advisory Committee, the chairman of the Budget Committee, and the president of the National Federation of Republican Women.
(b) The Executive Committee may exercise all the executive and administrative functions required of the Republican National Committee between meetings of the Republican National Committee, with the exception of the following:
(1) election of officers of the Republican National Committee;
(2) ratification of the election of members of the Republican National Committee;
(3) issuance of the call and designation of the time and place for holding the national convention; and
(4) filling a vacancy in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States, or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States.
(c) The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the chairman and such meetings shall be held at least twice in each year. In addition, upon written petition of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the Executive Committee, the chairman, within ten (10) days of his receipt of said petition, shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman. The date of such meeting shall fall between ten (10) and twenty (20) days from the date of the call. The minutes of all Executive Committee meetings shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to all members of the Republican National Committee. (d) In addition to the foregoing, the Executive Committee shall encourage and solicit the advice and counsel of Republican groups and organizations. The Executive Committee, in its discretion, may grant particular Republican groups and organizations ex-officio status.
RULE NO. 25 Rules of Order
(a) Robert's Rules of Order shall govern in all meetings of the Republican National Committee and its committees insofar as they are applicable and not inconsistent with these rules.
(b) All meetings of the Republican National Committee and all of its committees shall be open meetings, except as provided for by Robert's Rules of Order.
(c) A member of the Republican National Committee may give a written and witnessed proxy to an eligible and declared Republican voter of the same state, which shall be effective for one (1) meeting, including all committees of the Republican National Committee and other meetings held in conjunction with the Republican National Committee meeting that the proxy grantor is eligible to attend. The proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee.
(d) No votes (except elections to office when properly ordered pursuant to the provisions of Robert's Rules of Order) shall be taken by secret ballot in any open meeting of the Republican National Committee or of any committee thereof.
RULE NO. 26 Meetings of the Republican National Committee
(a) The Republican National Committee shall meet at least twice in each year. A tentative agenda for each meeting shall be mailed to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting. The minutes, including all resolutions and motions, shall be mailed to all members of the Republican National Committee within thirty (30) days after the close of the meeting.
(b) The first meeting of the Republican National Committee shall take place within five (5) days after the adjournment of the national convention. Such meeting and all other meetings of the Republican National Committee shall take place upon call of the chairman or, in case of a vacancy in the chairmanship, upon call of the co-chairman or, in case of a vacancy in the chairmanship and the co-chairmanship, upon call of the vice chairman senior in time of service as a member of the Republican National Committee, provided, however, that such call shall be issued at least ten (10) days in advance of the date of the proposed meeting, except that if one of the purposes of a meeting of the Republican National Committee is to fill a vacancy in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States then only five (5) days notice of the purpose, date, and place of said meeting shall be required. Upon written petition of sixteen (16) or more members of the Republican National Committee, representing no fewer than sixteen (16) states, filed jointly or severally with the chairman, requesting a meeting of the Republican National Committee, it shall be the duty of the chairman, within ten (10) days from receipt of said petition, to issue a call for a meeting of the Republican National Committee, to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman, the date of such called meeting to be not later than twenty (20) days or earlier than ten (10) days from the date of the call.
RULE NO. 27 Filling Vacancies in Nominations
(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise in the office of Republican candidate for President of the United States or Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.
(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast in the national convention.
(c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy.
(d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election.
RULE NO. 28 Committees of the Republican National Committee
(a) There shall be the following committees:
(1) There shall be a Standing Committee on Rules of the Republican National Committee, composed of one (1) member of the Republican National Committee from each state, to review and propose recommendations with respect to The Rules of the Republican Party. The members of the Republican National Committee from each state shall caucus and by majority vote choose from their number within eight (8) months following the national convention appointees to serve on this committee. If the members of the Republican National Committee from any state do not within this period submit to the chairman of the Republican National Committee their choice to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules, the chairman of the Republican National Committee shall select, from among the members of the Republican National Committee from each such state, one (1) member to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules. The chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules shall be elected by the committee from among its members.
(2) There shall be a Committee on Arrangements to plan for and manage the next national convention. The chairman and the co-chairman of the Republican National Committee shall be members of the Committee on Arrangements and the chairman of the Republican National Committee shall appoint to the Committee on Arrangements at least one (1) member of the Republican National Committee from each state. The chairmen of the Committee on Arrangements and of its subcommittees shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members of the Committee on Arrangements and, together with such other officers as shall be elected by the Committee on Arrangements, shall be members of the executive committee of the Committee on Arrangements. The chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules and the chairman of the Committee on Contests shall also be members of the Committee on Arrangements.
(3) There shall be a Committee on the Call, composed of a chairman and at least seven (7) members of the Republican National Committee who shall be appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall assist the Republican National Committee in connection with issuance of the call for the next national convention pursuant to Rule No. 30. This committee shall be appointed after the selection of the Committees on Rules and Arrangements.
(4) There shall be a Committee on Contests which shall be composed of two (2) members of the Republican National Committee from each of the four (4) regions described in Rule No. 23 elected by members of the Republican National Committee from each such region, and a chairman appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members or officers of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall perform the duties relating to the resolutions of contests prescribed in Rule No. 39. This committee shall be elected after the selection of the Committees on Rules and Arrangements.
(5) There shall be a Committee on the Site of the Republican National Convention, which shall be composed of two (2) members of the Republican National Committee from each of the four (4) regions described in Rule No. 23, elected by the members of the Republican National Committee from each such region, and a chairman appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members or officers of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall be responsible for investigating potential sites for the next national convention, and for recommending a site to the Republican National Committee for selection. This committee shall be selected no later than two (2) years following the Presidential election.
(6) There shall be a Committee on Resolutions, which shall be composed of two (2) members of the Republican National Committee from each of the four (4) regions described in Rule No. 23, elected by the members of the Republican National Committee from each such region, and a chairman appointed by the Chairman of the Republican National Committee from among the members of the Republican National Committee. This committee shall consider all resolutions submitted by any member for adoption by the Republican National Committee and shall report to the Republican National Committee all resolutions timely submitted to it together with its recommendations for adoption, amendment, or other disposition. The Committee on Resolutions shall report out, without amendment and for consideration by the Republican National Committee, any resolution submitted in writing, and supported by at least one (1) member of the Republican National Committee from each of ten (10) states, dated, and submitted to the Chairman of the Resolutions Committee at least thirty (30) days before any regularly called meeting of the Republican National Committee or at least ten (10) days before a specially called meeting.
(7) Each member of the Republican National Committee shall be a member of at least one (1) of the above-mentioned committees. The general counsel of the Republican National Committee shall be counsel to each of such committees. The minutes of these committees shall be distributed as promptly as practicable to all members of the Republican National Committee. Any of these committees may meet and act by telephone conference upon twenty-four (24) hours notice.
(b) The chairman of the Republican National Committee, with the approval of the Republican National Committee, may appoint such other committees and assistants as he or she may deem necessary and whenever such committees are appointed, they shall consist of a chairman and an equal number of men and women.
(c) The pledge of allegiance and an appropriate prayer shall be conducted at the beginning of all meetings of the committees listed in these rules, including meetings of all subcommittees, immediately following the call to order by the chairman.
RULE NO. 29 Finance and Budget
(a) The Republican National Committee shall create a Republican Finance Committee and any subcommittees thereof which it deems desirable, to which it may delegate the responsibility of developing and implementing a broad-based fundraising plan. The chairman of the Republican Finance Committee shall be appointed pursuant to the provisions of Rule No. 23(d).
(b) The Republican National Committee shall create a Budget Committee and any subcommittees thereof which it deems desirable, to which it may delegate the responsibility of developing a budget and reviewing income and expenditures of the Republican National Committee. The Budget Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members of the Republican National Committee, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the chairman of the Republican National Committee and one (1) of whom shall be elected by each of the four (4) regional caucuses in January of each odd-numbered year (as provided in Rule No. 23(c)). In addition, the general counsel of the Republican National Committee shall be counsel to such committee and the following shall serve as ex-officio members of the Budget Committee: the chairman, co-chairman, and treasurer of the Republican National Committee, and the chairman of the Republican Finance Committee. The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall make every effort in such appointments to ensure that an equal number of men and women serve on the Budget Committee. The chairman of the Republican National Committee shall appoint the chairman of the Budget Committee from among the members thereof.
(c) The annual budget shall be approved at the first meeting of the Republican National Committee held in each year. The proposed budget, in reasonable detail, shall be mailed to all members of the Republican National Committee at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting.
(d) The Republican National Committee shall not without prior written and filed approval of all members of the Republican National Committee from the state involved, contribute money or in-kind aid to any candidate for public or party office except the nominee of the Republican Party or a candidate who is unopposed in the Republican primary after the filing deadline for that office. In those states where state law establishes a non-partisan primary in which Republican candidates could participate, but in which the general election may not include a Republican candidate, the candidate endorsed by a convention held under the authority of the state Republican party shall be recognized by the Republican National Committee as the Republican nominee.
CONVENING OF THE NEXT NATIONAL CONVENTION
RULE NO. 30 Call of Next Convention
The Republican National Committee shall issue the call for the next national convention to nominate candidates for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States prior to January 1 of the year in which the national convention is to be held. The Republican National Committee shall issue and promulgate the call in a manner consistent with these rules, which call shall include the text of the rules relating to the convening and the proceedings of the national convention.
RULE NO. 31 Membership in Convention
The membership of the next national convention shall consist of:
(a) Delegates.
(1) Six (6) delegates at large from each of the fifty (50) states.
(2) Three (3) district delegates for each Representative in the United States House of Representatives from each state.
(3) Four (4) delegates at large from American Samoa, fourteen (14) delegates at large from the District of Columbia, four (4) delegates at large from Guam, fourteen (14) delegates at large from Puerto Rico, and four (4) delegates at large from the Virgin Islands; provided, however, that if Puerto Rico shall become a state prior to the next national convention, the number of delegates from Puerto Rico shall be calculated in accordance with the same formula used for the other states.
(4) From each state having cast its electoral votes or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the last preceding election: four and one-half (4 1/2) delegates at large plus a number of the delegates at large equal to sixty percent (60%) of the number of electoral votes of that state; provided, however, that if Puerto Rico shall become a state prior to the next national convention, it shall be presumed that it would have cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee in the last preceding election. (In the computation of the number of delegates at large, any sum of the four and one-half (4 1/2) plus the sixty percent (60%) representing a fraction shall be increased to the next whole number.) In addition, one (1) delegate at large shall be awarded to a state for any and each of the following public officials elected by such state in the year of the last preceding presidential election or at any subsequent election held prior to January 1 of the year in which the next national convention is held:
(i) A Republican governor, provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1);
(ii) Membership in the Republican Party of at least one-half (1/2) of the Representatives representing a state in the United States House of Representatives; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1);
(iii) Membership in the Republican Party of a majority of the members of any chamber of a state legislature, if such chamber has been organized, and is presided over (if the presiding officer is elected by the chamber), by Republicans; or, if the membership in the Republican Party of the members of any chamber of a state legislature increases by twenty-five percent (25%) or more, so long as twenty-five percent (25%) equals at least two (2) legislators; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1).
(iv) Membership in the Republican Party of a majority of all chambers of a state legislature, if all such chambers are presided over (if the presiding officer is elected by the chamber), by a Republican; provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed one (1).
(5) In addition, one (1) delegate at large shall be awarded to a state for any and each Republican United States Senator elected by such state in the six (6) year period prior to January 1 of the year in which the next national convention is held, provided that no such additional delegate at large award to any state shall exceed two (2).
(6) In addition to the delegates as calculated above and in paragraph (9) below, any state party, including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, notwithstanding the definition of "state" or "states" as set forth in Rule No. 3, which holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention during the time periods indicated below, shall be awarded additional delegates as follows:
(i) Any state party, including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, which holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention on or between March 15 and April 14, inclusive, of the year in which the national convention is held shall be awarded additional delegates at large in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of such state's above-calculated delegate allocation total.
(ii) Any state party, including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, which holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention on or between April 15 and May 14, inclusive, of the year in which the national convention is held shall be awarded additional delegates at large in an amount equal to seven and one half percent (7.5%) of such state's above- calculated delegate allocation total.
(iii) Any state party including American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, which holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention on or between May 15 and the third Tuesday of June, inclusive, of the year in which the national convention is held shall be awarded additional delegates at large in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of such state's above-calculated delegate allocation total.
(iv) In the computation of the number of delegates pursuant to Rule 31(a)(6), any sum representing a fraction shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
(7) Within twenty (20) days following the deadline for filing the materials specified in Rule No. 32(d)(1), the Republican National Committee shall notify all state parties of the claims for additional delegates made by each state party pursuant to the provisions of Rule No. 31(a)(6).
(8) In addition from the District of Columbia, if the District of Columbia shall have cast its electoral votes, or a majority thereof, for the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the last preceding presidential election: four and one-half (4 1/2) delegates at large plus the number of delegates at large equal to thirty percent (30%) of the fourteen (14) delegates at large allotted to the District of Columbia. (In the computation of the number of delegates at large, any sum of the four and one-half (4 1/2) plus the thirty percent (30%) representing a fraction shall be increased to the next whole number.)
(9) Any state which would receive fewer delegates under all provisions of this rule than it received to the 1972 Republican National Convention shall have its number of delegates increased to the same number of delegates it received to the 1972 Republican National Convention.
(b) Alternate Delegates.
One (1) alternate delegate for each delegate to the national convention.
(c) Excessive Claims.
Except as provided in Rule No. 32(d)(3), any state party may contest the number of delegates claimed by any other state party pursuant to Rule No. 31(a)(6)(i),(ii), or (iii) by filing a notice of contest with the secretary of the Republican National Committee.
(1) Such notice shall state the grounds of the contest and shall be filed no later than twenty (20) days after the receipt by the contesting state party of the notification sent to each state party by the national committee pursuant to Rule No. 31(a)(7).
(2) Within five (5) days, the secretary of the Republican National Committee shall notify the contested party that a notice of contest has been filed.
(3) No later than thirty days (30) after the filing of the contest, each party thereto shall file with the secretary of the Republican National Committee at least three (3) printed or typewritten copies of the statement of position in support of the party's claim regarding the total number of delegates claimed under Rule No. 31(a)(6)(i),(ii), or (iii) together with such affidavits or other evidence as desired. The secretary of the Republican National Committee, upon receiving the statement of position of a party, shall furnish the opposing party a copy of said statement of position. Each statement of position shall include a summary of not more than one thousand (1,000) words setting forth succinctly a synopsis of the statement of position and a specific statement of the points relied upon.
(4) On or before October 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is held, the Committee on Contests shall hear and decide all contests presented to it. The issues decided by the Committee on Contests shall be the sole issues for appeal to the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee.
(5) The parties shall have twenty (20) days following receipt of said decision to file a written notice of appeal to the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee.
(6) On or before December 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is held the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee shall hear and decide all appeals presented.
(d) Any state party may set the date for any primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention. To the extent a state party's rules are in conflict with its state's laws with respect to this rule, the provisions of this rule and the state party's rules shall control. To the extent the provisions of the rule are inconsistent with the provisions of Rule No. 32, the provisions of this rule shall be controlling for all purposes.
RULE NO. 32 Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates
(a) Order of Precedence.
Delegates at large and their alternate delegates and delegates from congressional districts and their alternate delegates to the national convention shall be elected in the following manner:
(1) In accordance with any applicable laws of a state, insofar as the same are not inconsistent with these rules; or
(2) To the extent not provided for in the applicable laws of a state, in accordance with any applicable Republican Party rules of a state, insofar as the same are not inconsistent with these rules; or
(3) By a combination of the methods set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this rule; or
(4) To the extent not provided by state law or party rules, as set forth in paragraph (c) of this rule.
(b) General.
In all elections of delegates or alternate delegates to the national convention, the following rules shall apply:
(1) In any jurisdiction in which Republican representation upon the board of judges or inspectors of elections for primary elections is denied by law, delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected as provided in paragraph (a)(2) or (a)(4) of this rule.
(2) In selecting delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention, no state law shall be observed which hinders, abridges, or denies to any citizen of the United States, eligible under the Constitution of the United States to hold the office of President of the United States or Vice President of the United States, the right or privilege of being a candidate under such state law for the nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States or which authorizes the election of a number of delegates or alternate delegates from any state to the national convention different from that fixed in these rules.
(3) Alternate delegates shall be elected to the national convention for each unit of representation equal in number to the number of delegates elected therein and shall be chosen in the same manner and at the same time as the delegates, and under the same rules; provided, however, that if the law of any state shall prescribe another method of choosing alternate delegates they may be chosen in accordance with the provisions of the law of the state in which the election occurs.
(4) Delegates and alternate delegates at large to the national convention when serving as delegates and alternate delegates shall be residents of and duly qualified voters in their respective states. All delegates and alternate delegates allocated as delegates and alternate delegates at large shall be elected at large in the several states; provided, however, that such allocation and method of election may be varied in any state to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to avoid conflict with state law applicable to the selection of national convention delegates if such varying allocation and method of election were those pursuant to which delegates at large and alternate delegates at large were elected to the 1988 Republican National Convention from that state.
(5) Delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention representing congressional districts shall be residents of and qualified voters in said districts respectively when elected and when serving as delegates and alternate delegates. There shall be three (3) delegates and three (3) alternate delegates allocated to represent each congressional district of the several states, who shall be elected by each such congressional district; provided, however, that such number of delegates and alternate delegates allocated to represent, and elected by, any congressional district of a state may be reduced or increased to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to avoid conflict with state law applicable to the selection of national convention delegates if such varying allocation was that pursuant to which district delegates and alternate district delegates were elected to the 1988 Republican National Convention from the state.
(6) No delegate or alternate delegate to the national convention shall be required to pay an assessment or fee in excess of that provided by the law of the state in which his or her election occurs as a condition of serving as a delegate or alternate delegate to the national convention.
(7) There shall be no automatic delegates to the national convention who serve by virtue of party position or elective office.
(8) Delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention may be elected only in one of the following manners:
(i) by primary election;
(ii) by the Republican state committee, where specifically provided by state law;
(iii) by state and congressional district conventions;
(iv) by any method consistent with these rules by which delegates and alternate delegates were selected to the 1984 Republican National Convention in that state.
(9) No state law shall be observed which permits any person to participate in a primary delegate and alternate delegate selection process that also permits that person at the same primary to participate in the choosing of nominees of any other party for other elective office. Delegates and alternate delegates shall in that event be elected by congressional district or state conventions pursuant to paragraph (c) of this rule.
(10) No delegates or alternate delegates shall be selected pursuant to any Republican Party rule of a state or state law which materially changes the manner of selecting delegates or alternate delegates or the date upon which such state party holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention if such changes were adopted or made effective after July 1 in the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held. Where it is not possible for a state party to certify the manner and the date upon which it holds a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention in effect in that state on the date and in the manner provided in paragraph (d) of this rule, the process for holding the presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention shall be conducted in the same manner and held upon the same date as was used for the immediately next preceding national convention or, if it is not possible to hold a presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention upon the same date as was used for the immediately next preceding national convention, then delegates or alternate delegates shall be selected by congressional district or state conventions pursuant to paragraph (c) of this rule.
(11) Except with respect to delegates and alternate delegates elected under paragraph (b)(8)(ii) of this rule and if consistent with paragraph (c)(5) of this rule:
(i) no presidential primary, caucus, convention, or other meeting may be held for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates or alternate delegates to the national convention, prior to the first Monday of February or after the third Tuesday of June in the year in which the national convention is held; and
(ii) the selection process of choosing those who will select delegates or alternate delegates shall not begin before September 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held.
(12) The Republican National Committee may grant a waiver to a state party from certain provisions of this rule in the following instances:
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule No. 32(a), a state party may select its delegates and alternate delegates by rules inconsistent with Rule No. 32(a)(1), provided that those state party rules are not otherwise inconsistent with the Rules of the Republican Party, and provided that the Republican National Committee determines that the state law being waived hereunder is adverse to the best interests of the Republican Party in that state.
(ii) Where it is not possible for a state party to comply with the July 1 deadline delineated in paragraph (d) of this rule and not possible for a state party to hold its presidential primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose of voting for a presidential candidate and/or selecting delegates to the national convention as was used for the immediately next preceding national convention or to select delegates or alternate delegates by congressional district or state conventions pursuant to paragraph (c) of this rule, and the Republican National Committee determines that granting such waiver is in the best interests of the Republican Party.
(c) Conventions.
Wherever state law permits or the Republican Party rules of a state require the election of delegates and alternate delegates by convention or there is no applicable state law or Republican Party rule, delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention shall be elected by congressional district or state conventions pursuant to the following rules:
(1) Congressional district or state conventions shall be called by the Republican state committee.
(2) Delegates to congressional district conventions may be elected in precinct caucuses, mass meetings, mass conventions, or county conventions in which only eligible voters in such precinct, county, or district as the case may be shall vote.
(3) Notices of the call for any such caucus, meeting, or convention shall be published in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the county district, or state as the case may be, not less than fifteen (l5) days prior to the date of such caucus, meeting, or convention.
(4) Only persons eligible to vote who are deemed to be Republicans pursuant to state law or by party rules of a state shall participate in any Republican caucus, mass meeting, or mass convention held for the purpose of selecting delegates to county, district, or state conventions and only such legal and qualified voters shall be elected as delegates to county, district, and state conventions; provided, however, that in addition to the qualifications provided herein, the governing Republican committee of each state shall have the authority to prescribe additional qualifications not inconsistent with law. Such additional qualifications shall be adopted and published in at least one (1) daily newspaper having a general circulation throughout the state, such publication to be at least ninety (90) days before such qualifications become effective.
(5) No delegates shall be deemed eligible to participate in any congressional district or state convention the purpose of which is to elect delegates to the national convention who are elected prior to the date of the issuance of the call of such national convention.
(6) Congressional district conventions shall be composed of delegates who are persons eligible to vote and who are deemed to be Republicans pursuant to state law or party rules. State conventions shall be composed of delegates who are persons eligible to vote and who are deemed to be Republicans pursuant to state law or party rules in the respective districts which they represent in said state conventions. Such delegates shall be apportioned by the state Republican Party among counties, parishes, and cities of the state or district having regard to the Republican vote or the population therein.
(7) There shall be no proxies at any district or state convention (which shall not include meetings of a Republican state committee) held for the purpose of selecting delegates to the national convention. If alternate delegates to such selection convention are selected, the alternate delegate and no other shall vote in the absence of the delegate.
(d) Certification and filing by state committees.
(1) On or before July 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is to be held, each Republican state committee shall adopt rules, procedures, policies, and instructive materials (prepared pursuant to Rule No. 34(a)) governing the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention to convene during the following year, and shall certify and file with the secretary of the Republican National Committee true copies of the same and of all statutes governing the selection of such delegates and alternate delegates.
(2) Any state committee which fails to certify and file such rules, procedures, policies, and instructive materials on or before July 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is held may not claim or be awarded any additional delegates as provided in Rule No. 31(a)(6).
(3) Any state committee which fails to certify and file such rules, procedures, policies, and instructive materials on or before July 1 of the year before the year in which the national convention is held may not contest the award of any additional delegates as provided in Rule No. 31(a)(6) to any other state.
RULE NO. 33 Election of Excess Delegates and Alternate Delegates
(a) No state shall elect a greater number of persons to act as delegates and alternate delegates than the actual number of delegates and alternate delegates respectively to which it is entitled under the call for the national convention, and no unit of representation may elect any delegate or delegates, or their alternate delegates, with permission to cast a fractional vote.
(b) Where more than the authorized number of delegates from any state is certified and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee in the manner provided in Rule No. 35, a contest shall be deemed to exist and the secretary shall notify the several claimants so reported and shall submit all such credentials and claims to the whole Republican National Committee for decision as to which claimants reported shall be placed upon the temporary roll of the national convention.
RULE NO. 34 Participation
(a) The Republican National Committee shall assist the states in their efforts to inform all citizens as to how they may participate in delegate-selection procedures. The states, in cooperation with the Republican National Committee, shall prepare instructive material on delegate- selection methods and make it available for distribution.
(b) Participation in a Republican primary, caucus, or any meeting or convention held for the purpose of selecting delegates and alternate delegates to a county, district, state, or national convention shall in no way be abridged for reasons of sex, race, religion, color, age, or national origin. The Republican National Committee and the Republican state committee or governing committee of each state shall take positive action to achieve the broadest possible participation by men and women, young people, minority and heritage groups, senior citizens, and all other citizens in the delegate-selection process.
(c) Unless otherwise provided by the laws of the state in which the election occurs, in those states where delegates and alternate delegates are elected through the convention system or a combination of convention and primary systems, the precinct, ward, township, or county meetings shall be open meetings, and all citizens who are qualified shall be urged to participate.
(d) Each state shall endeavor to have equal representation of men and women in its delegation to the Republican National Convention.
(e) The provisions of these rules are not intended to be the basis of any kind of quota system.
(f) On or after January 1, 1997, no state law or party rule shall be observed that allows persons who have participated or are participating in the selection of any nominee of a party other than the Republican Party, including, but not limited to, through the use of a multi-party primary or similar type ballot, to participate in the selection of a nominee of the Republican Party for that general election. No person nominated in violation of this rule shall be recognized as the nominee of the Republican Party. If state law or state party rule provides for the selection of the nominee of the Republican Party in violation of this rule, the Republican nominee shall be selected by a convention convened and held under procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of Rule No. 32(c), unless a state party rule provides specifically to the contrary.
RULE NO. 35 Certification of Election
(a) All delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected not later than thirty-five (35) days before the date of the meeting of the national convention, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the state in which the election occurs.
(b) Election of delegates and alternate delegates shall be certified:
(1) in every case where they are elected by convention, by the chairman and secretary of such convention or by the chairman and secretary of the Republican state committee, and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee;
(2) in every case where they are elected by primary, by the canvassing board or officer created or designated by the law of the state in which the election occurs, to canvass the returns and issue certificates of election to delegates or alternate delegates to national conventions of political parties, and all certificates shall be forwarded by said duly elected delegates and alternate delegates in the manner herein provided; and
(3) In every case where they are elected by the Republican state committee, by the chairman and secretary of the Republican state committee, and forwarded to the secretary of the Republican National Committee.
(c) No later than thirty (30) days before the time set for the meeting of the national convention, the credentials of each delegate and alternate delegate shall be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee for use by the secretary in making up the temporary roll of the national convention, except in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with the laws of the state in which the election occurs rendering impossible the filing of credentials within the time above specified.
RULE NO. 36 Contests: Resolution by States
All contests arising in any state electing district delegates by district conventions shall be decided by its state convention, or if the state convention shall not meet prior to the national convention, then by its state committee; and only contests affecting delegates elected at large shall be presented to the Republican National Committee; provided, however, if the contest regarding a district delegate arises out of the irregular or unlawful action of the state committee or state convention the Republican National Committee may take jurisdiction thereof and hear and determine the same under the procedures provided in Rules No. 38 and No. 39.
RULE NO. 37 Temporary Roll
(a) The names of the delegates and alternate delegates presenting certificates of election from the officials designated in Rule No. 35 shall be placed upon the temporary roll of the national convention by the Republican National Committee.
(b) No person on the temporary roll of the national convention and whose right to be seated as a delegate or alternate delegate is being contested shall be entitled to vote in the national convention or in any committee thereof until by vote of the national convention the contest as to such person has been finally decided and such person has been permanently seated, except that any such person may be accorded the right to so vote, except in matters involving the credentials of that person, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Republican National Committee or the Committee on Credentials.
RULE NO. 38 Contest Filing
(a) Notices of contests shall state the grounds of the contest and shall be filed, no later than thirty (30) days before the time set for the meeting of the national convention, with the secretary of the Republican National Committee and shall be sent, simultaneously, by registered mail to the person or persons being contested, except in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with applicable state law rendering impossible the filing of the notice of contest within the time above specified.
(b) Notices of contests may be filed only by a resident of the state whose delegation is challenged who was eligible to participate at any level in the delegate selection process of that state.
(c) Only contests that are timely filed under these rules shall be considered.
(d) For purposes of the rules relating to contests and credentials, the term "party" shall mean a person or persons who shall have filed a notice of contest pursuant to this Rule No. 38, and the person or persons whose right to be seated as a delegate or alternate delegate is the subject of such notice of contest.
RULE NO. 39 Contest Procedure
(a) The Committee on Contests shall have the power to adopt procedural rules, not inconsistent with these rules, which shall govern the expeditious prosecution of contests before the Committee on Contests. When any deadline set out in this rule falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such deadline shall be extended to the following day.
(b) No later than twenty-two (22) days before the convening of the national convention (or, in the case of delegates or alternate delegates elected at a time or times in accordance with applicable state law rendering impossible compliance with this requirement, within five (5) days after such election), each of the parties shall file with the secretary of the Republican National Committee at least three (3) printed or typewritten copies of the statement of position in support of the party's claim to sit as delegates or alternate delegates to the national convention together with such affidavits or other evidence as desired. The secretary of the Republican National Committee, upon receiving the statement of position of a party, shall furnish the opposing party a copy of said statement of position.
Each statement of position shall begin with a summary of not more than one thousand (1,000) words setting forth succinctly a synopsis of the statement of position and a specific statement of the points relied upon.
(c) The Committee on Contests shall promptly hear the matter; decide what issues are involved, either of law or fact, or both; decide upon its recommendation for resolution of such issues; and, submit such issues and its recommendations for resolution to the Republican National Committee. The issues so submitted by the Committee on Contests shall be the sole issues passed upon and determined by the Republican National Committee unless the Republican National Committee shall, by a majority vote, extend or change the same.
If the Committee on Contests for any reason shall fail to state the issues either of law or fact, the Republican National Committee shall decide upon what issues the contest shall be tried, and the hearing shall be limited to such issues unless the Republican National Committee, by a majority vote, shall decide otherwise.
(d) The Committee on Contests shall make up a report of each contest filed, showing the grounds of contest; the statute and rule, if any, under which the contest is waged; and the contentions of each party thereto. The report shall conclude with a statement of the points of issue in the contest, both of fact and law, and a statement of the recommendation of the Committee on Contests as to resolution of such points of issue, and shall be signed by the chairman or his designee. When the Committee on Contests has prepared such report stating the issues of law and fact, a copy of the statement of such issues shall be submitted forthwith to a person in the convention city, whom the parties must appoint at the time of filing the contest to receive such statement, and a copy shall be served forthwith by the chairman of the Committee on Contests upon the parties by the most expeditious method available, providing for written evidence of receipt including, but not limited to, overnight delivery service.
(e) The parties shall have eight (8) days to file written objections to the Committee on Contests' statement of the issues of fact or law, or both, unless the Republican National Committee is called to act upon the contest sooner, in which case such objections shall be made before the meeting of the whole committee. If the parties reside in American Samoa Guam, Alaska, Hawaii Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands they shall be entitled to ten (10) days to file written objections.
The objections shall contain any additional statement of issues of either law or fact, or both, claimed by the party submitting the same to be involved in and necessary to be decided in the contest.
(f) When the Republican National Committee is called to pass upon any contest that may arise, the members of the Committee on Credentials shall also be notified of the time and place of such meeting and shall have the right to attend all hearings of all contests but without the right to participate in the discussion or the vote.
RULE NO. 40 Convention Committee on Credentials
(a) When the national convention shall have assembled, the secretary of the Republican National Committee shall deliver to the Committee on Credentials all credentials and other papers forwarded under Rule No. 35(c).
(b) An appeal may be taken to the Committee on Credentials from any ruling of the Republican National Committee on any contest, by and only by a party to such contest in the proceedings conducted pursuant to Rules No. 38 and No. 39, provided, however, that notice of such appeal must be filed with the secretary of the Republican National Committee within twenty-four (24) hours after the decision, that such notice shall specify the grounds upon which the appeal is taken, and that only the grounds so specified shall be heard by the Committee on Credentials upon such appeal. No evidence other than that taken before the Republican National Committee shall be taken up by the Committee on Credentials unless it shall, by a majority vote of its members present and voting, so direct.
(c) No issue involving the status of one or more delegates or alternate delegates or any contest relating thereto may originate before the Committee on Credentials of the national convention. All contests must first be presented to the Committee on Contests of the Republican National Committee or to the whole Republican National Committee.
(d) No motion with respect to delegates or alternate delegates from more than one (1) state or territory shall be in order before the Committee on Credentials.