The Convener has been trained in advance to call the caucus to order (at 7:00 PM sharp) and to administer the business of the caucus. 

The Convener is not automatically elected to serve as the Caucus Chair of the Caucus, but we encourage each Caucus to elect the Convener to that role to help carry out the business purposes of the Caucus most efficiently.

A Convener does not need to reside in the applicable Precinct, but should satisfy all requirements for participation in a Precinct Caucuses generally.

The Caucus Chair is elected during the Precinct Caucus as soon as possible after covering introductory business.

It is also referred to as the "Permanent Chair" even though their responsibilities and authority terminate after the Precinct Caucus is completed and all documentation is turned in to the basic political operating unit (BPOU) (e.g., the SD45 Republicans).

The Convener is not automatically elected to serve as the Caucus Chair of the Caucus, but we encourage each Caucus to elect the Convener to that role to help carry out the business purposes of the Caucus most efficiently.

The Caucus Chair is distinct from the Precinct Chair, which is elected later in the Precinct Caucus and serves a two-year term.

A Caucus Chair does not need to reside in the applicable Precinct, but should satisfy all requirements for participation in a Precinct Caucuses generally.

The Secretary of the Caucus is appointed by the Convener and serves the important role of recording important information during and immediately following the Precinct Caucus. The Secretary of the Caucus may be selected and trained in advance or could simply be a willing person who steps up to the role at the Precinct Caucus at the request of the Convener.

The Secretary of the Caucus is separate from the Secretary of the Precinct, which is elected at the Precinct Caucus and serves a two-year term.

In exigent circumstances (i.e., no one else is willing to fill the role), the Convener may also serve as Secretary of the Caucus, but that is asking a lot from one individual!

PRECINCT CAUCUS SECRETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Before The Caucus

1. Review the material in the Caucus Packet.
2. Please arrive early (by 6:00 PM) and assist the Caucus Convener with setup.

Registration 

1. See that all registration materials are laid out before attendees begin to arrive.
2. Watch carefully to see that all registration forms are filled out accurately and legibly. Remind attendees to PRINT their contact information, including their email. Clarify any information that is incomplete or difficult to read.

During The Caucus 

1. After election of Delegates & Alternates, record those who were elected on the attendee sign in form to the right of the person’s name.
2. Record  Precinct Officers who were elected in the space provided on the attendee sign-in form to the right of the person’s name.
3. Record the times and total numbers of attendees, delegates, and observers on first page of the attendee sign-in form.
4. Collect all resolution forms. Be sure that each is marked pass or fail.
5. Sign your name where designated on all forms.
6. Collect all materials, place them in the envelope and give them to the Convener or Chair other person so designated by the Caucus Coordinator to collect all the forms at the end of the night.
7. Assist with cleanup. Erase any blackboards/whiteboards used and restore all furniture back as it was at the beginning of the night.
8. Bask in the glory of your role in a job well done!

Precinct Officers are elected at each Precinct Caucus to serve a two-year term until the next Precinct Caucus.

They consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.  One individual may serve in multiple roles, but in order to provide for appropriate succession planning it is highly recommended that the roles of Chair and Vice Chair and of Chair and Secretary be held by different people. 

PRECINCT OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of Precinct Officers as established by units of the Republican Party may be minimal; but the opportunities for making a difference are plentiful.

Precinct Officers are expected to:

• represent the Republican Party to the voters in their Precinct;
• attend Precinct Officer leadership training;
• work to ensure maximum attendance by Delegates and Alternates at SD45 Conventions;
• support the Party and its candidates financially;
• share ideas and potential projects for the SD45 Republicans to carry out its purpose;
• recruit volunteers and assist candidates and the SD45 Republicans by helping with fundraising events, get-out-the-vote communications, door knocking, volunteer recruitment, and sign placement; and
• encourage attendance and active participation at the next Precinct Caucus.

The Precinct Chair and Precinct Vice Chair have priority for attending an SD45 Full Committee meeting as representatives of their Precinct.

The Precinct Chair has priority for serving as Convener for the next Precinct Caucus and the Precinct Secretary has priority for serving as Caucus Secretary.

Precincts do not typically hold meetings outside of the biennial Precinct Caucuses. In the event the position of Chair is vacated, it is customary for the Vice Chair to fill that role for the remainder of the 2-year term.

The SD45 Republicans expect to reach out to newly elected and re-elected Precinct Officers promptly after Precinct Caucuses are completed both (1) in preparation for the coming BPOU Convention and (2) to understand what it can do to maximize their effectiveness for the duration of their term of service.

At each Precinct Caucus, Precinct Delegates and Alternates are elected to serve two-year terms until the next Precinct Caucus. Delegates and twice as many Alternates are allocated to each Precinct based on the number of votes that were cast in the Precinct for the Republican Party's endorsed candidate for Governor or President in the most recent completed general election.

Precinct Delegates represent their Precinct at their basic political organizing unit conventions and, in certain circumstances, other local unit conventions. Service as a delegate allows you to directly influence politics in your state Senate (45) and House (45A, 45B) districts through voting on candidate endorsements, electing party leadership and delegates and alternates for higher level (Congressional District and State) conventions, and changes to party rules.

PRECINCT DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Attend all conventions.
• Educate yourself on the issues you will be voting on, including reviewing any materials provided in advance of a convention.
• Work with Precinct and BPOU officers and volunteers to elect endorsed Republican candidates.
• Recruit an Alternate to take your place if you are unable to attend any convention.
• Support candidates and Republican Party units financially.
• Assist candidates and your BPOU with fundraising events, get-out-the-vote communications, door knocking, volunteer recruitment, and sign placement.

At each Precinct Caucus, Precinct Delegates and Alternates are elected to serve two-year terms until the next Precinct Caucus. Delegates and twice as many Alternates are allocated to each Precinct based on the number of votes that were cast in the Precinct for the Republican Party's endorsed candidate for Governor or President in the most recent completed general election.

Alternates are important because if a Delegate cannot attend a convention, then an Alternate represents the Precinct in their place.

Subject to available seats as a result of absent Delegates, a seated Alternate has the same rights and responsibilities at a convention as any other Delegate.

Alternates are typically ranked in order to expedite the process of seating them during a convention.

The Chair is expected to seek to appoint at least two Caucus participants to serve as Teller.

The law does not specify the manner of voting on contested matters and elections at Precinct Caucuses other than prescribing that “voting” must be conducted by secret ballot.

Accordingly, Caucus participants must vote by secret ballot if there is more than one candidate running for a position or if there are more candidates running for a position than there are seats.  In which case Tellers, if any, will pass out ballots, collect them, tabulate the results and announce the results for to the Precinct Caucus.

The Caucus Coordinator is appointed by the basic political organizing unit (BPOU). In addition to primary responsibility for the preparation for and conduct of the Republican Precinct Caucuses in the Senate District.  You should thank them, it's a lot of work!

During your Precinct Caucus, officials in the Minnesota Republican Party and it's local units or candidates seeking endorsement or general support may visit your room. Conveners and Caucus Chairs have discretionary authority to recognize these distinguished guests and allow them time to distribute materials and/or speak with your Precinct Caucus.

To maximize opportunities to hear form and engage with Party officials and candidates, the SD45 Republicans are arranging for speeches and social space up to an hour before Precinct Caucuses are convened and after Caucuses are completed.

To be eligible to participate in a Precinct Caucus, a person must meed the qualifications as outlined in the Bylaws of the Republican Party of Minnesota, namely:

1. You must be (or will be) eligible to vote at the time of the next state general election;
2. You must reside in the precinct at the time of the Precinct Caucus (click here to confirm your precinct by address);
3. You must be in agreement with the principles of the Republican Party of Minnesota as stated in its Constitution & Bylaws;
4. You must either: (a) have voted or affiliated with the Republican Party in the last general election or (b) intent to vote or affiliate with the Republican Party in the next general election; and
5. You must not have participated in, or intent to participate in, any other party's precinct caucus in the same year.

In case the right of a person to participate in a Caucus is challenged, the question of the right to participate will be decided by a vote of the this caucus. A person so challenged may not vote on the question of their right to participate. If the challenge is approved by a majority vote, then the person becomes an Observer and cannot vote or speak for the remainder of the caucus.

"Participation" in a Precinct Caucus includes, but is not limited to:

• Seeking nomination/election to serve as Caucus Chair or Caucus Secretary;
• Seeking nomination/election to serve in any Precinct Officer role;
• Submitting resolutions;
• Speaking for or against any candidate or matter;
• Distributing materials; and
• Making inquiries of the Caucus Chair or Secretary.

All Eligible Participants are encouraged to log in and RSVP for for Caucuses as soon as possible. Even if you RSVP in advance, you should confirm your information and sign the registration sheet at your Precinct Caucus Venue.