Rules applied - never voted on and officially adopted

by the Committee of the whole O.C. - pay particular

attention to B-2,3,&4
mini convention rules
Marta Harrison
Tue 3/15/2016 11:39 PM
Below are the mini-convention rules, as submitted by the Rules Committee to the Chairman.
If you have any questions, please email Brian White at bcorleywhite@gmail.com ...
CONVENTION RULES
RULES COMMITTEE
March 20, 2015
The following report of the Rules Committee is submitted to the Chairman of the Ocean County
Democratic Committee, and, upon his acceptance, shall serves as Rules of the Convention.
A. CONVENTION CHAIR
1. The Chair of the Ocean County Democratic Committee shall serve as convention Chair, or at
his discretion, shall appoint a delegate in good standing to serve as convention chair. The
Convention Chair shall execute the implementation of these rules and those rules of each
committee of the convention as adopted or amended by the convention.
2. Convention Committees & Officials: The Convention Chair shall appoint:
(a) up to five persons to a Ballot Committee, naming one as chair. The Ballot Committee shall
receive, tally and announce the totals of ballots cast. Candidates, or a duly appointed and
approved representative of the candidate, have the right to observe the receiving and tallying.
(b) up to five persons to a Credentials Committee, naming one as chair. The Credentials
Committee shall be responsible for hearing any challenges concerning credentials and issuing a
ruling regarding credentials.
(c) a Master Sergeant-at-Arms and such Assistant Sergeants-at-Arms as are deemed necessary.
The Sergeants-at-Arms shall be responsible to the Convention Chair to maintain order and good
conduct during the proceedings and assure that only delegates bearing proper credentials and
identification be seated. The Sergeants-at-Arms shall report any infraction of the rules to the
Convention Chair as well as the appropriate Convention Committee Chair.

3. The Convention Chair shall appoint such other committees and lesser officials that are deemed
necessary for the satisfactory functioning of the Convention.
B. DELEGATES
1. All delegates must:
(a) be properly registered voters to vote in the County of Ocean;
(b) have properly registered affiliation with the Democratic Party;
(c) be deemed by the Chair to be in good standing.
2. Regular Delegates: Final approval to seat any delegate shall be the responsibility of the
Credentials Committee. Those Democrats who otherwise satisfy the requirements of B(1) above,
and currently hold any of the following positions, shall be Regular Delegates from their
municipality:
(a) Members of the Ocean County Democratic Committee;
(b) Municipal Elected Officials;
(c) Municipal Chairs; and,
(d) Club Presidents.
3. At-Large Delegates: Final approval to seat any delegate shall be the responsibility of the
Credentials Committee. Those Democrats who otherwise satisfy the requirements of B(1) above,
and currently hold any of the following positions, shall be At-Large Delegates:
(a) Executive Board Members of the Ocean County Democratic Committee;
(b) Federal, State, and County Elected Officials who represent all or part of Ocean County;
(c) Members of the Screening and Recruitment Committee
(d) State Committee members;
(e) The Ocean County Democratic Committee chair may appoint, with the advice of the
Executive Board, up to 12 additional at- large delegates who must be Democrats in good
standing.
4. Individuals who serve in more than one capacity shall vote in each and every of these
capacities for each ballot position; provided, however, Regular Delegates may only vote for
those candidates for whom they are eligible to vote for in the primary and general election.
C. CONVENTION PROCEEDINGS
1. Only delegates shall be permitted to vote.
2. Only delegates, persons on the agenda and candidates shall have a voice on the convention
floor.
3. Upon a credentials challenge by any delegate, the Credentials Committee shall conduct an
immediate hearing and render a decision.

4. Motions, nominations, seconds, questions, points of order and other pertinent statements may
be voiced by any delegate, but are always directed through the Chair and only recognized by the
Chair.
5. All voting for contested nominations will be conducted by secret ballot, except that with the
consent of all candidates for a given office and the Chair, voting may be conducted by
acclamation. In the event of voting by acclamation, judgment as to the winner must be agreed
upon by all candidates on that ballot and all members of the Balloting and Credentials
Committee. In the absence of such agreement, a second, individually cast secret ballot will be
conducted.
6. Delegates must be physically present to be eligible to vote. Substitutions, proxies and the like
are not permitted.
7. Absent a specific regulation within these rules, the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order,
Newly Revised shall prevail in all questions of Order and Proceeding.
8. In the event that no candidate is recommended by a majority vote of the convention, the matter
will be decided by the Executive Board.
D. NOMINATIONS
1. Prior to nominations, the County Screening Committee, through the Committee's Chair, shall
report on the recommendation of the County Screening Committee.
2. Nominations:
(a) Only delegates who may otherwise vote for the candidate may nominate or second a
candidate, from the floor.
(b) There shall be no more than one nomination speech and one seconding speech for any
candidate.
(b) Nominating speeches shall be limited to one (1) minute in duration, and will take place in an
order determined by the chair.
(c) Seconding speeches shall not exceed one (1) minute in duration.
(d) Following nomination and second of all candidates, each candidate shall have five (5)
minutes to present a speech.
(e) Following the candidates allotted speech, the chair may entertain questions for the
candidates.
(i) Questions shall be submitted, in writing, to the Chair or the Chairs representative. In
the interest of time, the Chair may limit the number of questions.
(ii) Answers shall be limited to two (2) minutes.
(f) Time shall be kept by the Sergeants-at-Arms.
3. The Balloting Committee will keep record of and report nominations and seconds.

E. BALLOTING
1. Manner Of Balloting:
(a) Balloting shall be done in order by municipality.
(b) Delegates shall cast their secret ballot upon being called.
(c) The candidate who has received the majority votes of the delegate votes cast, shall be
recommended to the Chair as the endorsed candidate. In the event of no candidate receiving a
majority vote, the Executive Committee make the recommendation to the Chair.
(d) In the case of offices where two candidates are sought, the top two vote-getters shall be
declared the winners.
(e) If a candidate is unopposed for endorsement, the Convention Chair may waive the balloting
and/or roll call and entertain a motion for endorsement by acclamation.
(f) In the case of legislative and congressional candidates, ballots will be cast by regular
delegates within the boundaries of the district, and by all at large delegates.
F. PERSONS SEEKING ENDORSEMENT BY THE CONVENTION
1. All persons seeking recommendation by the convention shall be known as candidates .
2. Display of promotional material for a candidate and the gathering of signatures at the
convention shall be limited to the location designated by the Chairman.
3. Failure to abide by the rules of the convention could at a later date result in the nominee losing
the recommendation of the convention.
G. PURPOSES OF THE MINI-CONVENTION
1. The mini-convention is called by the County Chairman primarily to solicit input and
recommendations from the County Committee and other Democratic Leaders who are present as
delegates.
2. The mini-convention serves as an opportunity for delegates to familiarize themselves with the
Democratic Candidates, their platforms, and the Democratic Message.