Rules of the Day for the Founding Convention of the NC Democratic Jewish Caucus

RULE 1. Chair. The provisional President of this Caucus shall serve as Chair of this convention. The Chair shall have general direction of the convention on the Zoom Application and shall be authorized to take such action as is necessary to maintain order. The Chair is the Presiding Officer but may name an alternative temporary Presiding Officer  of the meeting at their discretion. The Chair, with the guidance of the Parliamentarian designated at the convening of the meeting by the Chair, shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal by any member. Priority of meeting rules shall be (1) the Rules of the Day adopted by the convention, and (2) Robert’s Rules of Order, (Newly Revised, 12th Edition).

RULE 2. Obtaining Recognition. This virtual meeting will be conducted using a Zoom platform. A participant of the convention who wishes to address the Chair and is using the Zoom Application shall use the “chat” feature to obtain recognition by sending a message to a MONITOR for  “RECOGNITION FROM CHAIR”. Participants will type either “motion,” “second,” “amendment,” “speak-for, “speak-against,” “nominate,” “procedural question,” or “point of order.”

A participant using the “dial-in number” method shall choose *9, (star 9) to obtain recognition. (*6 to mute and unmute).

Participants shall not speak until recognized by the Chair. The Chair shall inquire for which purpose the participant desires recognition. If the participant’s purpose is in order, the Chair will recognize the participant. Upon recognition, the participant shall state that participant’s name and county. 

A participant’s purpose which is in order must be in the context of the current discussion and can be to make a motion, second a motion, speak in favor, speak against, raise a point of order, nominate a candidate for office, or ask a procedural question. A “Point of Order” shall be made only if the Rules of the Day, or Robert’s Rules of Order are being violated by the Chair or another member. 

A “Point of Order” or a “procedural question” shall not be used to discuss a matter that is before the body.

RULE 3. Technical Questions. Any participant who has a technical question or needs technical help with Zoom and is using the Zoom Application shall use the “chat” feature to send a message to “Technical QUESTIONS.”

A participant using the “dial-in number” method should use the phone number given for technical assistance during the convention.

RULE 4. Limitations on Debate. No participant shall speak in debate more than once on the same question, or longer than one (1) minute, without unanimous consent. Debate on each question shall be limited to no more than 3 in favor and 3 against without unanimous consent. The chair will try to alternate speakers in favor and against a question. Ad hominem arguments (personal attacks) will not be tolerated by the Chair, who may curtail the remaining time of the speaker.

RULE 5. Credentialed Voting Prior to Adopting Bylaws. Democrats who are registered to vote in North Carolina and are duly registered for this convention shall be permitted to vote on the Agenda, Rules of the Day and Bylaws.  Once the Bylaws are passed, there will be a 10-minute Recess.

RULE 5A. Credentialed Voting After Adopting Bylaws. Once Bylaws are adopted, those NC Democrats who qualify for membership in the North Carolina Democratic Jewish Caucus, as per those bylaws (and as noted in the convention’s registration form) shall be considered members for the purposes of this convention. All registrations will be verified prior to the start of the convention. Only members present at the convention may vote. Registered, non-voting attendees are welcome to remain to observe and participate aside from voting. Once Bylaws are adopted those NC Democrats who meet the requirements of membership as stated in the bylaws, as shown the convention’s registration form, shall be considered members for the purposes of this convention. All registrations will be verified prior to the start of the convention. Only voting members may run for offices.

RULE 6. Types of Voting. The Chair may take voice votes, use the Zoom’s “raise hands,” “*9” feature for phones, Zoom polling, Google forms, or other electronic voting methods.

RULE 7. Viewing the convention.  NC Democrats who missed timely registration for the convention will be able to request a link to watch a recording of the meeting. They will not be able to participate in the meeting.

RULE 8. Agenda and Rules Modifications. The agenda, while pending, may be amended by majority vote. After its adoption, the agenda may be amended by two-thirds vote. The Rules of the Day, while pending, may be amended by majority vote. After adoption, the Rules of the Day may be amended by two-thirds vote.

RULE 9. Quorum. A quorum shall be 35% of participants who are duly registered for this convention. Once Quorum has been established, no additional call for Quorum shall be in order for one hour, and no additional call for Quorum shall be in order during a discussion.

RULE 10. Adoption of Bylaws. It is expected that participants will have read the proposed bylaws prior to the convention, however a brief description of the proposed bylaws will be given. Fifteen minutes will be allowed for discussion of the bylaws. Attendees may speak for or against adoption of the bylaws. Amendment to the bylaws at this convention shall be out of order but the bylaws contain provisions for amendment after they are adopted. Discussion shall be followed by an up or down vote on adoption.

Elections for Office.

RULE 11. Officers to be elected: Elections shall occur for President of the Executive Committee, 3 Vice Presidents, and a Secretary as described in the Bylaws.

Elections shall also occur for the 5 members of the Mediation and Conciliation Committee.

RULE 12. Nominations: Prior to calling for whether there are any nominations from the floor, the Chair shall announce the candidates in alphabetical order for that office who have been recommended by the Caucus’s Search Committee or have previously submitted applications nominating themselves. Receipt of an application shall be considered an official nomination for that office. Further nominations for office, if any, are allowed from the floor and must be made by the candidate. No seconds are needed for nominations. Once nominations are closed, the total time for any candidate’s speeches shall not exceed two (2) minutes. Time shall be enforced by the Chair. During the allotted time, candidates may speak, and / or have someone speak on their behalf.

RULE 13. Elections for the President and 3 Vice Presidents. If only one nomination for an office is received, a motion to elect that person by acclamation shall be in order. If two nominations are received for any office, the election shall be by majority vote. If three or more nominations are received for any office, and a nominee fails to receive a majority, the candidate with the least votes will be removed from the next round of voting.

RULE 14. Elections for the Mediation and Conciliation Committee: If there are no more than 5 nominations for this committee, election of all the nominees by acclimation shall be in order. If there are more than 5 nominees, the 5 candidates with the most votes shall be elected.

~ END of RULES of the DAY