PROPOSED RULES
OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
National Delegate Selection Convention - April 9, 2016
The following rules shall govern the proceedings of the Oklahoma Democratic Party’s National
Delegate Selection Convention to be held on the 9th of April, 2016.
RULE 1:
AGENDA - (see printed program)
RULE 2:
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
The purpose of this meeting is to elect delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention
according to the DNC approved Delegate Selection Plan. In addition, one (1) National Committeeman
and one (1) National Committeewoman shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.
RULE 3:
VOTING MEMBERS
The only individuals entitled to participate in this convention shall be the duly credentialed
delegates and officers from the 2015 State Convention of the Oklahoma Democratic Party in
accordance with the party’s Constitution, Article II: Section 5; or their replacement(s) and/or proxies.
Anyone whose credentials have been challenged shall not receive credentials until the challenge has
been defeated by a vote of the convention. Delegates arriving after the credentials committee report
has been adopted shall be entitled to receive their credentials and participate in the meeting unless
challenged. Late arriving delegates may not vote on any matter that has already been disposed. Only
Credentialed Delegates, Officers and Democratic Elected Officials or their proxies shall have floor and
speaking privileges (i.e. Nominating, Seconding, etc.) when introduced or recognized. Written Proxies
for delegates who do not attend, must be the same gender and from the same political unit as that from
which the delegate was elected. Recorded proxies for delegates who attend but leave before
adjournment must be of the same gender and must sign over their proxy before the credentials
committee. No individual may hold more than one proxy. Proxy holders are bound by the delegate’s
Pledge of Support at the District Level.
RULE 4:
SEPARATION OF DELEGATES
A. Credentialed members of the State Convention shall be seated separately from all other
individuals present at the Convention.
B. Following candidate speeches, access to the Convention floor shall be stopped and no one
shall be allowed to enter until the election is concluded. During the vote counting, no one
shall be allowed to move about the floor except for those persons assigned to assist in
counting votes.
RULE 5:
QUORUM
A quorum shall be forty percent (40%) of the state convention delegates. Ex-officio members
shall not be counted in determining if a quorum is present. However, proxies shall be counted in the
determination of a quorum.
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Rule 6:
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The reports of the Convention Committees shall be adopted by a majority vote (50% plus 1) of
the voting members of the State Convention present and voting. The adoptions of the Credentials
Committee’s report shall mean that the State Convention has seated the credentialed members included
in the report and adopted the committee’s recommendations concerning any challenged members. The
adoption of the Rules Committee’s report shall mean that the rules recommended by the committee
have been adopted as the rules of this convention.
RULE 7:
MINORITY REPORTS
Twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of either of the convention’s committees may
submit a minority report to the State Convention following the report of their committee and before
any vote has been taken on that committee’s report.
RULE 8:
ELECTION OF NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN & COMMITTEEWOMAN
A. Nominations – Nominations for National Committee Members can be made by any
convention credentialed delegate authorized to vote and shall require a second.
Nominations for National Committee Members shall not be closed by a vote of the
convention, but shall continue until there are no further nominations. An individual does
not have to be a delegate to the State Convention in order to run and be elected as a
National Delegate.
B. Speeches – Following the close of the nominations for National Committee Members, each
candidate shall be allowed one nominating speech of not more than two (2) minutes, one
seconding speech of not more than one (1) minute and a speech of the candidate of not
more than two (2) minutes. Speaking order shall be the order in which nominations are
made. Nominating speeches shall be given first, then seconding speeches and finally all
candidate speeches after which the election shall be held.
C. Elections – Elections for National Committee Members shall be by roll call of the counties
unless there is only one person nominated, in which case the chair shall declare that person
elected and there shall be no nominating or seconding speeches or vote taken. A candidate
must receive a majority vote (50% plus 1) to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority
vote on the first round, the two candidates with the highest votes, will proceed to a run-off
election. While voting is underway, sergeants-at-arms shall keep the doors closed and shall
assist officers in maintaining order. Tally clerks shall assist the officers in the actual count.
RULE 9: ELECTION OF NATIONAL DELEGATES
A. Order of Elections – After the election of National Committee Members, the State
Convention shall divide into caucuses by Congressional District, and then by Presidential
Preference to elect its National Convention Delegates.
B. After the District Level elections are complete, the State Convention shall reconvene to
elect the PLEO’s, At-Large and Alternate Delegates.
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C. Nominations – Only candidates for National Delegate who have been approved by a
Presidential Candidate’s authorized representative may be nominated. Nominations for
National Delegate can be made by any convention credentialed delegate authorized to vote
and shall require a second. Nominations shall not be closed by a vote, but shall continue
until there are no further nominations. Nominations shall be made and elections held for all
of one gender delegates first, and the nominations and elections of the opposite gender
delegates shall follow in accordance with the National Delegate Selection Plan.
D. Following the end of nominations for each delegate spot, each candidate shall be allowed to
speak to the convention or caucus for one (1) minute. There are no Nominating or
Seconding speeches. The Candidate will speak only once during each level (i.e. District,
PLEO, At-Large & Alternate), but may be nominated more than once if not elected.
E. Election – All elections for National Delegate shall be by counted vote, unless there is only
one (1) candidate nominated, in which case that person shall be declared elected and there
shall be no speeches or votes taken. Counted vote shall be defined as each delegate
standing and counting off as they sit down with the assistance of counters.
1. National Delegates elected at the District level shall be elected by caucuses of
credentialed delegates who have signed Pledges of Support for the Presidential
Candidate to whom that National Delegate will be pledged.
2. National Delegates elected at the State Level (PLEO’s, At-Large and At-Large
Alternates) shall be elected by the entire State Convention. A Pledge of Support is not
required to vote for State Level Delegates.
3. An individual does not have to be a delegate to the State Convention in order to run and
be elected as a National Delegate. During the At-Large selection of delegates, priority
consideration shall be given to candidates who represent the affirmative action goals
and to achieve gender balance.
4. Voting for delegates and/or alternates shall be conducted separately for each male and
female slot. Candidates for delegate must receive a majority vote (50% plus1) to be
elected. If no candidate receives a majority vote (50% plus 1) on the first round, the
two candidates with the highest votes, will proceed to a run-off election. While voting
is underway, sergeants-at-arms shall keep the doors closed and shall assist officers in
maintaining order. Tally clerks shall assist the officers in the actual count.
RULE 10:
MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES
After these rules have been adopted, only a motion to suspend the rules may change them.
Such a motion shall specifically state the rule to be changed, the new wording and duration of the
change. It shall require a second and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. However, rules of the
Constitution and By-Laws of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, the Delegate Selection Rules of the
National Democratic Party and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised may not be suspended.
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