Reference:
"The Rules of the Republican Party" adopted by the RNC September 2012:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-static-ngop-pbl/docs/Rules_of_the_Republican+Party_FINAL_S14090314.pdf amended 8 August 2014.
The interpretations on this page were last updated on 5 February 2013.
Timing
Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada may hold their delegate selection primaries, caucuses, and conventions no earlier than one month before the next earliest state. The remaining jurisdictions may begin their processes on 1 March 2016 and must finish by the 2nd Saturday in June [11 June 2016 -Ed] [Rule 16(c)(1)]. Note that Rule 20(a) says "All delegates shall be elected or selected not later than 45 days [Friday 3 June 2016 -Ed] before the ... national convention.".
- The computations used to create this document are described in the "The Rules of the Republican Party" adopted during the 2012 Republican National Convention.
- Republicans base delegates are determined by the number of U.S. Senators and U.S. House Members elected by each state.
- Bonus delegates are awarded based on the number of party members elected as Presidential Electors (2012), Governors (2012-2015), House members (2012-2015), Senators (2010-2015), and state legislatures (2012-2015).
Delegate Allocation
- For jurisdictions with Constitutionally Elected Members of Congress:
- 10 At-Large delegates from each state (effectively, 5 at-large delegates for each U.S. Senator) [Rule 14(a)(1)].
- 3 District delegates for each U.S. Representative as established by the 2010 census [Rule 14(a)(3)].
- For jurisdictions without Constitutionally Elected Members of Congress [Rule 14(a)(4)]:
- 6 at-large delegates from American Samoa.
- 16 at-large delegates from the District of Columbia.
- 6 at-large delegates from Guam.
- 6 at-large delegates from the Northern Mariana Islands.
- 20 at-large delegates from Puerto Rico.
- 6 at-large delegates from Virgin Islands.
- For all jurisdictions (the 50 states plus American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) - 3 party leaders: the national committeeman, the national committee woman, and the chairman of the jurisdiction's Republican Party. [Rule 14(a)(2)]
- Bonus Delegates
- President: States casting a majority of their 2012 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the jurisdiction's total 2012 Electoral Vote in bonus delegates. Should the District of Columbia cast the majority of their electoral votes for the Republican Candidate, the District will receive 4.5 + (0.30 × 16) in bonus delegates. Round any fractional remainder UP to the next whole number. [Rules 14(a)(5) and 14(a)(8)]
- U.S. Senate: Award 1 bonus delegate for each Republican Senator elected in the 6 year period between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. Limit 2. [Rule 14(a)(7)]
- Governor: States electing a Republican Governor between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit: 1. [Rule 14(a)(6)(i)]
- U.S. House: States electing Republicans to 50% or more of their U.S. House delegation between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 14(a)(6)(ii)]
- One Chamber: States electing a Republican majority to one chamber of the state legislature (and the chamber is presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 14(a)(6)(iii)]
- All Chambers: States electing a Republican majority to all chambers of the state legislature (and all chambers are presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 14(a)(6)(iv)]
Assumptions
In 2010, Alaska's Class 3 Senator Lisa Murkowski (Republican) lost her bid for re-nomination in the Republican primary but was re-elected as a write-in in the General Election. We assume the state will receive a bonus delegate for her re-election.
The Nebraska state Legislature is unicameral and elected nonpartisan. In January 2013, unofficially 30 of 49 Senators were Republicans and Speaker Greg L. Adams is a registered Republican. We assume the state will receive 2 bonus delegates: 1 for One Chamber and 1 for All Chambers.
Delegate Allocation to Presidential Contenders
and Sanctions
These rules appear to state that delegates must be elected by winner-take-all or proportional primaries, caucuses, and conventions. Direct delegate election by primary is also permitted.
In 2012, TheGreenPapers often included a statement such as "The participants at each caucus alone determine if presidential preference is to be a factor in such choice and, if so, how it is to be applied" to describe a nominating processes which elected delegates without formal binding to a presidential candidate. At best, we could only speculate about the preferences of the delegates and nearly every source tracking delegate counts had different figures. This type of delegate selection now appears to be prohibited. A state violating the rule will receive a 50% reduction in delegates and the RNC will allocate the delegates for them.
In addition, the delegates are bound to their pledge all they way through to the convention. In 2012, there were many claims that Paul delegates ran for and won delegate slots that where bound to Romney in a primary. The concern was that these delegates would vote for Paul at the National Convention. The 2016 rules indicate that a delegate can be removed for merely demonstrating support for a candidate other than one to which he or she is bound.
"Prior to 1 April 2016, any presidential primary, caucus, convention, or other process to select, allocate, or bind delegates to the national convention may ... allocat[e] delegates on a proportional basis." [Rule 16(c)(2)]
"Any statewide presidential preference vote that permits a choice among candidates for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in a primary, caucuses, or a state convention must be used to allocate and bind the state’s delegation to the national convention in either a proportional or winner-take-all manner, except for delegates ... who appear on a ballot in a statewide election and are elected directly by primary voters." [Rule 16(a)(1)]
- If any ... state Republican Party violates Rule No. 16(c)(2"), the number of delegates and ... to the national convention from that state shall each be reduced by fifty percent (50%). Any sum presenting a fraction shall be decreased to the next whole number. No delegation shall be reduced to less than two (2) delegates ...." [Rule 17(a)]
- "If any ... state Republican Party violates Rule No. 16(c)(2) ..., the Republican National Convention shall provide for the allocation of the selected at large delegates (excluding members of the Republican National Committee) among the candidates who received more than 10% of the votes cast in such primary, convention or caucus in accordance with and in proportion to the votes cast for each such candidate as a part of the total of the votes cast ...." [Rule 17(b)]
- "The Secretary of the Convention shall faithfully announce and record each delegate’s vote in accordance with the delegate’s obligation under these rules, state law or state party rule. If any delegate bound by these rules, state party rule or state law to vote for a presidential candidate at the national convention demonstrates support under Rule 40 for any person other than the candidate to whom he or she is bound, such support shall not be recognized. Except as provided for by state law or state party rule, no presidential candidate shall have the power to remove a delegate." [Rule 16(a)(2)]
A table listing the 2016 allocation method used by each state is here.
Timing Sanctions
In 2012, there were 2 start dates: 1 for the carve-out states and another the remaining jurisdictions. If a state bound delegates earlier, there was a 50% sanction: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina each received a 50% penalty for violating the timing rule. Even though Iowa began their process earlier than allowed, Iowa was not sanctioned because they did not bind their delegates.
In 2016, the carve-out states have a floating date: "1 month before the next earliest state". The timing penalty for the non-pre-window states is no longer 50% of their delegation but a reduction to 12 delegates if they begin before the last Tuesday in February-- 23 February 2016.
No primary, caucus, or convention to elect, select, allocate, or bind delegates to the national convention shall occur prior to Tuesday 1 March 2016 .... Except Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada may begin their processes no earlier than 1 month before the next earliest state ... [Rule 16(c)(1)]
No delegates ... shall be elected, selected, allocated, or bound ... to any Republican Party ... which materially changes the manner of electing, selecting, allocating, or binding delegates ... or the date ... [the] Party holds a presidential primary, caucus, [or] convention ... if such changes were ... made ... after October 1 of the year before ... the national convention .... [Rule 16(d)(12)]
- If any state ... Republican Party violates Rule No. 16(c)(1) of The Rules of the Republican Party with regard to a primary, caucus, convention or other process to elect, select, allocate, or bind delegates ... to the national convention by conducting its process prior to the last Tuesday in February, the number of delegates to the national convention shall be reduced to 9 plus the members of the Republican National Committee from that state ....[Rule 17(a)]
Debate Sanctions
There shall be a Standing Committee on Presidential Primary Debates .... The ... Committee ... shall have the authority to sanction debates ... based on ... considerations of timing, frequency, format, media outlet, and the best interests of the Republican Party ... Any presidential candidate who participates in any debate that is not a Sanctioned Debate shall not be eligible to participate in any further Sanctioned Debates... [Rule 10(h)]
Other Requirements
States should accommodate military voters.
Any process ... for selecting delegates ... for binding the presidential preference ... shall use every means practicable to guarantee the right of active duty military personnel and individuals unable to attend meetings due to injuries suffered in military service the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in that process.... [Rule 16(d)(7)]
If a state violates the rules, the RNC members forfeit their positions as automatic delegates.
- If a ... state Republican Party is determined to be in violation ... No member of the Republican National Committee from the offending state shall be permitted to serve as a delegate ... to the national convention. [Rule 17(f)(1)
As in 2012, a state cannot appeal their sanctions.
- A state ... Republican Party shall have no appeal from ... a penalty imposed upon it under this rule. [Rule 17(g)].
The party has clarified the nomination requirements for candidates at the convention.
Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of ... delegates from ... 8 or more states ... [T]he affirmative written support ... shall have been submitted to the secretary of the convention ... prior to the placing of the names of candidates for nomination .... [Rule 40(b)]
A table listing the start date for each state is here.
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