Precinct Caucus 2012

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Passing Your

Precinct Resolution

Te average citizen must be a good citizen if our republics are to succeed. Te stream will not permanently rise higher than the main source; and the main source of national power and national

greatness is found in the average citizenship of the nation. —Teodore Roosevelt

January 2012 TEXAS INTERFAITH CENTER for public policy

Once every four years, as we go to the polls to vote in the presidential primaries, Texanshave the rare opportunity to participate in representative democracy in its simplest form—the

precinct resolution. This guide explains how the precinct resolution process works, why it’simportant, and how you can pass resolutions on issues that are important to you.



Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy: Passing Your Precinct Resolution 2012 2

You’ve heard the term, “think globally: act locally.”Precinct-level participation is the most basic way

to act locally, with potentially global outcomes. It isthe building block needed to carry out democracy in

our existing party-based structure of representation.The precinct convention meeting takes place in

your neighborhood, at your polling place or rightnear by.

The other people who attend are your fellow party-

members from your immediate community—yourneighbors. The purpose of these meetings is to

find delegates for the county convention, and todiscover the policy priorities of the most invested

party members on the ground, presumably thosewho attend precinct convention meetings.

Precinct resolutions are statements of policy

priorities submitted and voted on by party delegatesat their local precinct convention meetings.

Any precinct caucus participant can propose aresolution.

A precinct resolution might reflect the strong

feelings of an individual, or it may be part ofa package of resolutions promulgated by an

interest group. The voters present at the precinctconvention can discuss, amend, table or adopt

passage of any resolutions offered by thedelegates.

Once passed at the precinct level, resolutions

advance to the county convention where they arevoted upon again and begin their climb up the partyfood chain. All it takes is for one precinct to pass a

resolution for it to be considered at the county level.Ultimately, a solid and well-supported resolution

may be adopted by the state and national partyplatforms where it may in turn inspire legislation

and new laws.

I’ve Never Done Something LikeThis— What Happens At The Precinct

Convention?

The main business is to elect and become

a delegate to your Senate District or CountyConvention, where delegates to the State

Convention are elected and resolutions passed on

issues of the day.

Counties where the entire county is in the

same Senate District have County conventions instead of Senate District conventions. In places

where the Senate District covers more than one county, the next level up is referred to as the

County Convention.

Precinct Convention Logistics

WHEN: On the day of the presidential primary at7:15pm in the building where your precinct has

voted on Election Day. A notice should be postedat the polls to announce the meeting right after the

polls close at 7pm.

WHERE: In or very near the building where yourprecinct voted during the primary election. Call your

County Party office during the daytime of the week

prior to Primary Election Day to confirm the location.It will also be listed in the newspaper and should beposted on the web site of the County Clerk’s office.

WHO: Anyone who has just voted in their party’s

Primary election starting with early voting.

WHAT: The Precinct Chair typically runs themeeting, but if the Chair is not available or if it is

preferred by the group assembled, any participantcan be elected to chair the meeting. A packet is

provided to guide the Convention Chair through

the meeting steps, agenda and reports that haveto be completed which ultimately document theproceedings.

Before You Go: Convention Detailsand Useful Information

If you don’t know which precinct you live in, goto Who Represents Me? (www.fyi.state.tx.us)

and type in your address. Your precinct numberis at the very top, to the right of your county.

Now head to your county party website and find outwho your precinct chair is. If there is no information

on the website call the Party office. If there is nowebsite, call your county party chair.

If there is no precinct chair, ask if you can be



Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy: Passing Your Precinct Resolution 2012 3

appointed. If there is a precinct chair, find theircontact information, contact them and volunteer to

help organize.

If your precinct chair and/or county party chair isnon-responsive, file to run for chair. Candidates

for precinct chair can file between October andJanuary.

Party Platforms

The ultimate goal for a precinct resolution is

inclusion in the party platform of the precinct caucusthat adopted it. The process of developing a state

or national party platform is complex and generallyclosed to public participation, but delivering a

precinct resolution is one way to make your voiceheard.

A party platform is the list of the principles whicha political party supports. In the United States, the

Democratic Party has adopted a platform every fouryears since 1840, and the Republican Party has

adopted a platform every four years since 1856.

Find the historic platforms of the Democratic and

Republican parties as well as the platforms ofother current and former parties at the AmericanPresidency Project at the University of California at

Santa Barbara.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php

Basic Precinct Convention Agenda

1. All participants sign in.2. Call meeting to order.

3. Elect meeting “Permanent” Chair and Secretary (to take minutes and prepare forms).4. Chair announces the number of delegates to be elected.

5. Participants nominate and elect delegates to go to County or Senate District Convention. You cannominate yourself and vote for yourself. Delegates elected do not have to be at the precinct meeting,

but must have voted in the Primary. That is verified at the Senate District or County Convention wherelists of the voter rolls are maintained.

6. Chair calls for reading of Resolutions. Participants vote for or against Resolutions to go forward to thenext convention. This is a simple majority rules vote up or down.

7. Logistics of Senate District or county convention are discussed and assignments are made to calldelegates and alternates not attending the precinct convention. The Chair adjourns the meeting.

8. The Chair and Secretary complete and sign the forms provided in the Convention packet, includingcopies of Resolutions accepted, and follow instructions on disposition and filing of the forms and

reports.

Find model precinct resolutions on key priority issues atwww.texasimpact.org



5 Step Guide to Passing Precinct Resolutions

1. Vote in your primary election, either during Early Voting or on the Primary Election Day. You MUST votein the primary to participate in any party convention. Note: you must be registered to vote 30 days before

you are eligible to cast your vote.

2. Download Texas Impact’s Precinct Resolutions and make at least three copies.3. Attend your Precinct Convention. On Primary Election Day, go to your polling place as soon as voting

ends. A notice should be posted at the polls to announce the meeting. Typically it starts right after the

polls close at 7pm. Call your neighbors and friends in your precinct who share your views on issues youcare about and recruit them to join you. You can expect these meetings last about an hour, maybe longer

depending on the size of your precinct.4. Along with your three (or more) copies of Texas Impact’s precinct resolutions (and any others you consider

important), bring your voter registration card, a pen, paper, and perhaps a copy of the your party’s rulesfrom the state party website.

5. Present your resolutions. The main business of the Precinct Convention is to elect delegates and alternatesto attend the County Convention. Once these elections are wrapped up (yes, you can nominate yourself!),the final action of the convention is the passage of resolutions. When the Precinct Chair calls for reading

of resolutions, don’t be shy, just wait your turn and read your resolutions to the group. Participants votefor or against resolutions to go forward to the county convention. It is a simple majority rules vote up or

down. If your resolutions are successful, turn them in to the Precinct Chair so she can submit them foradvance to the county level.

After the precinct convention, your duties are complete. If you want to take it further here are a few

suggestions:• Write a letter-to-the-Editor of your local paper. Educate them on the issue of your resolution and let

them know it was passed.• Send your story and the successful resolution to Texas Impact.

• Attend the County and State Convention!

Whatever you do next, you should definitely celebrate. You are now officially shaping the direction of public

policy, right in your own neighborhood.

The Texas Interfaith Center on Public Policy is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization thatprovides public policy analysis from a mainstream theological perspective to people of faith and

other Texans. The Center is the research and education arm of Texas Impact, the states oldestand largest interfaith legislative network. Texas Impact was established by Texas religious leadersin 1973 to be a voice in the Texas legislative process for the shared religious social concerns of Texas faith communities. Texas Impact is supported by more than two dozen Christian, Jewish andMuslim denominational bodies, as well as hundreds of local congregations, ministerial alliances andinterfaith networks, and thousands of people of faith throughout Texas.

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Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy • 221 East 9th Street, Suite 403, Austin, Texas 78701 • www.texasinterfaithcenter.org • 512.472.3903

Precinct Caucus 2012

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