The RNC was to meet Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee, to choose members who will effectively set the calendar for 2016's long list of potential presidential contenders. If the party's chairman, Reince Priebus gets his way, the GOP will pick its nominee more quickly than during past contests and have fewer debates in which candidates could criticize each other.

The RNC also was expected to put penalties in place for candidates who don't follow the committee's plans.

RNC officials described the agenda ahead of the three-day meeting. The officials insisted on anonymity because the entire 168-member central party had not yet been briefed on the proposal.

The move is designed to shorten the volatile nomination period and lengthen the time the party's choice has to make a case against the Democrats.