Precinct Caucus Training

1. Precinct Caucus Training How you can become the voice of hundreds of others.

2. All Politics is Local. -Tip ONeil People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by the majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard- a very different thing. -Walter H Judd The World is Run by those Who Show Up. -Unknown

3. You are here because youGet It!You know America is in trouble. You understand that the American Federal government was created by the States and the people. You know that the creature, the Federal government does not have sovereignty over the creator, the States and the people.

4. You Get That. You understand that our founding fathers very wisely and carefully created a Constitution to define and limitthat young government’s powers to protect the States and the people…. primarily from that government. You’re amazed at how many people don’t understand that.

5. It irks you to know that the Federal government controls access to 70% of Utah’s land, depriving the people of energy resources that would make Utah energy self-sufficient for over 400 years and fund much of our public education. You know the Government that we created does not have the legal authority to do that.

6. You understand the intent of the Constitution’s 10th Amendment “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Madison explained to the people in Federalist No. 45 that the powers of the new government would be “few and defined.” You know instinctively that taking $4,500 from your pocket and giving it to someone to help buy a new car is wrong.

7. You’ve Checked it Out! You’ve counted the very few enumerated powers that the federal government was supposed to have. You understand that forcefully confiscating wealth of one group and redistributing it to another group is not one of those intended powers.

8. You see corruption is rampant. You understand that the federal government now criminally exceeds those very limited enumerated powers and today they don’t even try to mask it. You see that Goldman Sachs accepted $10 billion in government rescue funds to help it stay afloat last year but Goldmanemployees will receive $19 billion in bonuses for 2009. You think its more than coincidence that the government is crawling with Goldman executives.

9. You know that 40% of Americans pay no taxes. In fact many Americans have lost their will to be self sufficient and have become dependent on this ever growing federal government. You are angry, frustrated and scared!

10. You understand… …as our government has devoured the rights, powers and responsibilities of the States and people, we are no longer in charge of that government that we created… we have become servants of it.

11. Every night you shout at the TV. You know as individuals, we can’t do anything to influence those compromised national leaders, particularly the incumbents. • Letters and emails allow you to be heard occasionally but don’t create change. • Shouting at the TV doesn’t work. • Over half of Americans don’t even think their vote countsand they have given up trying.

12. There is one hope... we outnumber them. There are only 500 or so national public office holders and there are well over 300 Million of us. We literally surround them.

13. What if… …the voices of thousands residents of one state shout out and act with the same common purpose to limit the federal government? And, what if… the State Legislature acts aggressively to challenge the unconstitutional Federal actions?

14. What if… …the people and legislatures of 50 states stand shoulder to shoulder with that same common purpose Limit the Federal government? If just this vocal and committed fraction of those 300 million citizens with the same common purpose combine their voices and actions, they become an army and their collective voice becomes a roar.

15. That is the only peaceful strategy to reverse things. • Utahns must resolve to stand up to the Federal government and to challenge Federal mandates and programs legislatively. • In order to succeed, the people of Utah must understand why and fill the pipeline of local and state government with elected officials who understand and are committed to limited government and the intent of the constitution. • States across the nation with one common purpose must act in unison. It’s happening…

16. Utah legislators who have formed an alliance with other lawmakers throughout the country to challenge the federal government through state legislative actions. • Those citizens, like you, who “get it” are counted on to actively support the States’ Rights concept and that PHC legislation by taking responsibility for your own neighborhood.

17. Purpose of Today’s Training To prepare 9.12ers and States’ Rights advocates and PHC supporters to become neighborhooddelegates to your county and state political conventions. By becoming a delegate, you educate your neighborhood and you personally nominate candidates to fill leadership positions in the State. This is where the power is.

18. Reality 1:Community organizers understand the importance of grassroots, neighborhood activism. In many parts of the country it’s a key to gaining power and keeping it. Reality 2:In Utah, delegates to the Republican Party conventions have the most significant voice in selecting Utah’s leaders. All it takes is to get off the couch and talk to our neighbors.

19. In order to change the faces on Capitol Hill, we must change the names on the ballots from the bottom up. As a delegate, you have the power to make that change. As a delegate you will represent hundreds of registered voters from your precinct.

20. 2010 Key Dates Neighborhood Caucus Tue. March 23 SL County Convention Sat. April 24 Utah State Convention Sat. May 8 Primary Election Day Tues. June 22 General Election 2010Tue. Nov. 2

21. What is a Precinct Caucus Meeting? • Precinct Caucus meetings are held by the political parties every even numbered year to organize the precincts and elect party convention delegates. • A precinct is the smallest political organizing unit in the state. Basically, a precinct is the households in your neighborhood. A precinct will vary in size and population determines the boundaries. Local municipalities draw the precinct boundaries.

22. Precinct Caucus Meetings typically take place in the home of someone who lives in your neighborhood. They may also take place at libraries, schools or other public buildings. • Anyone who attends a Precinct caucus meeting can nominate other attendees or themselves to become a delegate or precinct officer.

23. You need to know the number of your neighborhood precinct in order to attend your precinct caucus meeting. Go to your County Clerk’s website to determine your precinct number and polling place. • The exact location of your caucus meeting will be officially printed in the newspaper on the Sunday before the precinct caucus meetings but you should be proactive and find out well before. This year, precinct caucus meetings will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

24. The person conducting this workshop may be able to provide your Precinct Chairperson’s name and phone number. • You can also call your county political party for more information.

25. What is a delegate and how do I get elected as a Party Delegate? Registered Republicans who will be age 18 by the general election and have lived in Utah at least 30 days immediately before the next election can be a delegate . A delegate is an elected representative to the county or state political party from their precinct. Delegates are elected at the precinct caucus meetings. I represent my Neighborhood

26. Delegates represent their precinct and attend and vote at all County Party Conventions and/or State Party Conventions, depending on the county in which you live. Delegates assist Precinct Officers with political organizing in their legislative district. Delegates vote on the content of their party platforms and governing documents.

27. Remember, in order to become a Republican Delegate, you must be a registered Republican. You may register before your precinct caucus or at the caucus. • Delegates are elected for two-year terms. • Each precinct is allocated a specific number of delegates (based on the relative strength of past voter performance in that precinct). One, Two or Three Delegates

28. State Delegates • Delegates are elected at the Precinct Caucus. • State Delegates attend State Primary Convention. (Held during even numbered years after all County Organizing Conventions have been held. In 2010 that is Saturday, May 8. • State Delegates elect Party candidates in contested races (including statewide offices). • State Delegates approve the party platform and vote on platform amendments.

29. State Delegates • State Delegates attend the State Organizing Convention (Held during odd numbered years after all County Organizing Conventions have been held) • State and County parties determine State Delegates • State Delegates elect State Party officials • Delegates hear and vote on amendments to the State Party Platform

30. County Delegates • Delegates elected at the Precinct Caucus Meeting. • Delegates attend County Primary Convention (Held during even numbered years; SL County Convention is Sat. April 24, 2010). • Delegates nominate the Party’s candidates (including County offices). • Delegates approve the party platform and vote on platform amendments.

31. County Delegates • Delegates attend County Organizing Convention (Held in spring during odd numbered years). • Delegates elect County Party officials. • Delegates hear and vote on amendments to the County Party Platform.

32. How do I get elected as a Delegate? • Typically to get elected as a party delegate, you will need to run a “mini-campaign” for yourself in your neighborhood. • Depending on the neighborhood that you live in, it can be very competitive to get yourself elected as a delegate and you should be prepared.

33. The Crucial Conversation This process begins with you initiating a crucial conversation with your family, friends, and neighbors. Step by Step 1. Have a crucial conversation with your neighbors and contact the political party activists in your precinct and commit them to attend and vote for you at the precinct caucus. A short hand-out video is being developed that you can use to help motivate your neighbors.

34. Step by Step 2. Read the Party Platform before you go to your caucus. For the Utah State Republican Party platform go to www.utgop.org 3. Bring a photo ID with you to your precinct caucus meeting. 4. Ensure all of your supporters show up that at the precinct caucus to vote for you. 5. During the precinct caucus meeting individuals who are running for a delegate position will give a shortspeechor will be asked to talk about why they are interested in becoming a delegate.

35. Step by Step 6. When the meeting is coming to an end, the group of attendees will vote for their new delegates and elect new precinct officers. 7. Be prepared to stay at the meeting the whole time (about 2 hours), voting takes place at the end.

36. Keys To Success: • Contact the current precinct chair at least a month before the caucus and learn about the history and personality of your precinct. Find out if there are others of like mind who are advocates of small government and States’ Rights or those that typically have been delegates in your precinct. If so, form an alliancewith them to make certain that those neighbors on both your teams don’t split the vote.

37. Keys to Success: • Canvas your neighborhood at least a month in advance of the caucus, building a team of supporters of your point of view. • Depending on the precinct, usually if you bring 10-12 voters to the caucus you will be elected. If you and another aligned neighbor with the same goal both bring a dozen voters who each vote for both of you, each of you will almost always win the caucus election.

38. Helpful Hint: Check out the iCaucus Videos: These resources are great tools to educate and activate your neighbors. Ourcaucus.com Find out how Congress was stolen from us with the step-by-step Video Presentation: "The 12 Articles of the Independence Caucus“ You will also find how-to webinars, written instructions and forums to network and share ideas with iCaucus members. Our thanks to iCaucus for inspiration on our crucial conversation methodology.

39. Again, the time frame: • Neighborhood CaucusTue. March 23 • SL County Convention Sat. April 24 • Utah State Convention Sat. May 8 • Primary Election Tue. June 22 • General Election Tue. November 2

40. Optional Slides • Slides that were edited out of the presentation to simplify.

41. Definitions Precinct Caucus—a grass-roots meeting that is held for political organizing purposes Delegate— a person elected at a precinct caucus meeting who votes at their party convention to elect the party’s nominees to run in the primary and general elections and helps organize their precinct for elections Legislative District—a geographical area that an elected official represents Legislative Chair—person elected by precinct chairs to organize their legislative district and work with precinct officers, delegates, candidates and potential candidates.

42. Organizing Convention— a convention that occurs in the odd-numbered years to elect State Party officers, County Party officers and review party platforms. Nominating Convention— a convention that occurs in even-numbered years so that delegates can elect their party’s nominees to run in the primary and general elections Precinct— the smallest political organizing unit in the state a geographical area. Your precinct number is usually printed on your voter registration card. Precinct Caucus—a political party meeting of the voters in a precinct that is held to elect delegates and precinct officers. Both parties hold precinct caucus meetings in even numbered year on the same date (typically in late March).

43. Precinct Chair—elected by attendees at the precinct caucus meeting. Responsibilities include being a member of the County Party Central Committee, organizes precinct for elections, possibly hosts the precinct caucus meeting in the next even numbered year, works with the Legislative Chair to help organize district Precinct Secretary—elected by attendees at the precinct caucus meeting, keeps accurate minutes, records, and lists for the precinct Precinct Treasurer—elected by attendees at the precinct caucus meeting, keeps accurate, detailed financial records for the precinct Precinct Vice-Chair—elected by attendees at the precinct caucus meeting, member/attendee of the County Party Central Committee, assist Precinct Chair in duties, assume the duties of the Chair in their absence