Youth For Ron Paul

1
Delegate Training

• Youth For Ron Paul

2
What is a Convention?

• Every two years there are conventions at the
  following levels
• Precinct
• County / Senatorial District
• State
• National
• This year, precinct conventions were skipped due
  to redistricting problems

3
How are Conventions Run?

• Roberts Rules of Order
• Similar to what you see in Congress or Court
• The goal is to organize the business of the
  convention to be able to move through it as
  quickly as is reasonably possible, while
  respecting the rights of each attendee

4
Roberts Rules of Order

• Point of Information
• Ask a question about some fact
• E.g. How many people are here today?
• Parliamentary Inquiry
• Ask a question about the rules
• E.g. Does this motion require 1/2 or 2/3 to pass?
• Point of Order
• Point out that the rules are not being followed
• E.g. The chair failed to take the previous vote
• Point of Personal Privilege
• State that something in the environment is
  preventing you from fully participating
• E.g. The air conditioning is so loud I cant hear
  the debate

5
Roberts Rules of Order

• Motions
• Ask that something be voted on
• E.g. I move that we break for ice cream
• Most of the convention time is spent in motions
• Many motions require a second
• A second person that wishes to consider the
  motion
• Every motion has an opportunity for debate

6
Roberts Rules of Order

• Amendments
• Motions can be amended by additional motions
• E.g. I move to amend the current motion such that
  ice cream be replaced with snow cones
• Amendments generally follow the same rules as
  motions
• The amendment is resolved first, then the
  original motion
• If the amendment above passed, it still requires
  another passing vote on the motion as amended
  before it is time for a snow cone break
• If the amendment fails, the original motion would
  still be brought to a vote

7
Voting

• There are several ways that the assembly can
  vote.
• Typically the chair will use the fastest way
  possible (voice), and work towards the more time
  consuming as it is requested.
• Voice
• Raising Hands
• Standing (Not Counting)
• Standing (Counting)
• Ballot
• Roll Call
• Any attendee may request an uncounted standing
  vote
• A majority may request a counted standing vote

8
Voting Strength

• Strength is determined by how many people from
  your precinct voted in the 2010 primary
• If your precinct has voting strength of 8, and
  there are 2 people there, then each person has
  four votes
• If your precinct has voting strength of 8, and
  there are 16 people there, then each person has ½
  of a vote
• Typically strength is only taken into account for
  role call votes

9
What Happens at a Convention?

• Call to Order by the Temporary Convention Chair
• Appointment of Temporary Convention Officers
• Secretary, Sargent-At-Arms, Parliamentarian
• Acceptance of temporary role
• Report of the Rules Committee
• Adoption of supplemental rules
• Report of the Permanent Organization Committee
• Election of Permanent Convention Officers

10
What Happens at a Convention?

• Appointment of the Permanent Nominations and
  Permanent Resolutions Committees
• Precinct Caucuses, if necessary
• Report of the Permanent Nominations Committee
• Adoption of Nominations (Delegates)
• Report of the Permanent Resolutions Committee
• Adoption of Resolutions
• Other Business
• Adjourn

11
What is a Delegate?

• A delegate is an individual sent from one
  convention to the next convention to represent
  the group that did not become delegates
• There will be many people at the Brazos County
  Convention, but we may only send about 75 to
  state as delegates.

12
Why Are Delegates Important?

• The Republican primary is not won by popular
  vote, as portrayed by the media
• It is won at the National Convention, where the
  delegates cast votes for who they want to
  nominate
• To become a National Delegate, you first must be
  a State Delegate, and so on
• A majority at the county level, provides for a
  majority at the state level, provides for a
  majority at the national level