Republican National Committee

THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL Committee (RNC) is the official organization representing the Republican Party in the United States. According to the party rules, the Republican National Committee “shall have the general management of the Republican Party, subject to direction from the national convention.” Under party rules, the committee is required to meet at least twice a year. The primary responsibilities of the Republican National Committee are to develop and promote the Republican Party's political agenda, coordinate fundraising and election strategy, support Republican Party office holders and candidates, and organize and run the quadrennial Republican National Convention. Also, under party rules, a vacancy on the national ticket would be filled by a vote of the national committee.

The committee was established in 1856 to organize the first Republican National Nominating Convention. The first chair of the Republican National Committee was Edwin D. Morgan, a former Whig. Initially, one national committee member, who would be elected by the state party organization for a four-year term, represented each state and U.S. territory. In 1924, following the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment that extended the franchise to women, the membership of the Republican National Committee was expanded to include a national committeeman and national com-mitteewoman from each state, U.S. territory, and the District of Columbia.

In 1952, the composition of the Republican National Committee was again modified, for the purpose of providing bonuses to state parties that did well on behalf of the party. A state that had voted Republican in the previous presidential election, had a Republican majority in its congressional delegation, or had a Republican governor, would be given an extra seat on the RNC to be occupied by its state party chair. In 1968, the composition of the Republican National Committee was established: state party chairs, national committeeman, and national committeewoman representing each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. The terms of the national committee members are four years, while the state party chair remains a member of the RNC as long as they are chair of their state party organization. The national committee has 165 members.

The leadership of the Republican National Committee consists of the chair and co-chair, elected by the members of the RNC. Under party rules, the chair and co-chair must be of the opposite sex. They are also full-time employees of the party. In addition, the RNC elects eight vice chairs: a male and female from each of the four regions (the Western States Association, the Midwestern States Association, the Northeastern States Association, and the Southern States Association), a secretary, and a treasurer. All officers are elected for two-year terms.

The Republican National Committee has a number of standing committees. The Executive Committee consists of 28 members, including all RNC officers, and is responsible for acting on behalf of the committee between its meetings. The Rules Committee, consisting of one delegate from every state, makes recommendations regarding the party rules to the national committee and the national convention. The Budget Committee develops the budget and reviews the income and expenditures of the RNC. The RNC Chair appoints three of the seven members, and the other four are selected from the regional caucuses. The Committee of Resolutions, informally known as the Platform Committee, is responsible for preparing the party platform presented to delegates for their consideration at the national nominating convention every four years. The committee consists of eight members (two from each of the four regions) and a chair appointed by the RNC Chair.

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