Preamble: Our Basic Principles

WE THE WORKING PEOPLE in the United States, in order to forever liberate ourselves from exploitation and oppression, declare:

• our right to organize ourselves to struggle and fight for our collective class interests;
• our right to the wealth we create with our collective labor;
• our right to defend ourselves and our class from any and all attacks by those who seek to maintain this system of exploitation and oppression;
• our right to empower our class through all possible avenues of activity; and
• our belief that whenever any system of social relations becomes destructive toward the laboring masses of society, it is the right of those laboring masses to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new social system, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

In order to fulfill this declaration, we come together on the basis of the following principles:

    1. Capitalism is an international system based on the production of commodities through collective labor for the profit of the private owners of the means of production. This system of social relations is based on three main classes: the capitalist class, which owns the means of production; the “middle class,” composed of small shopkeepers, independent producers, managers, professionals, bureaucrats, police, military officers, etc.; and, the working class, which really owns only its ability to work (its labor-power).

    2. We believe that working people are the only class that can bring about communism and the abolition of classes. Because of the nature of modern class society, the proletariat is an international class and can only bring about its liberation on an international scale; history has shown that it is impossible to achieve a classless society in a single country. Working people have no “homeland” and no common interests with the other classes in society. Because the capitalists are organized on a world scale, so too must working people. A world party of working people is needed to defeat the world system of capitalism.

    3. The liberation of working people from exploitation and oppression is the task of working people themselves. Neither the capitalists nor the “middle class” as classes, nor any section of them, can carry out the tasks necessary to make the abolition of classes possible. Only working people, organized into their own political party and fighting on the basis of their own class program, can fulfill these tasks. Such a party can only be described as a communist party. The communist party, if it is to succeed, cannot represent class interests other than those of working people and cannot be composed of any other than working people.

    4. The goal of any communist party worthy of the title is the defeat of capitalism, the establishment of a working people’s republic and abolition of the old order, and laying the foundation of the new, communist society — a society of general freedom, without classes and class antagonisms, and without privately-owned means of production.

    5. Capitalist class society cannot be reformed out of existence, nor can the capitalist state simply be captured and used in the interests of working people. Capitalism must be overthrown and replaced with working people’s rule, based on their own organizations. Since the state is a weapon created and wielded by one class against all others — either to maintain its rule or, as in the case of working people, to abolish all other classes — the capitalist state must be replaced by the working people’s republic in order to open the path to the abolition of class society.

    6. Modern capitalism — imperialism — seeks to organize and reorganize the world on its own basis. It does this through both economic and military war, especially in neo-colonial countries. Working people have no stake in the success of “their own” capitalists in times of war; rather, they only have an interest in capitalism’s defeat, which weakens its grip on the world. The defeat of imperialism in a time of war allows working people the ability to transform such conflicts into decisive battles that can lead to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a working people’s republic.

    7. Capitalist class society claims to be based on “democracy.” However, their “democracy” is only made for capitalists, not working people. This can be seen not only in the general restrictions on the political rights of working people, but most acutely in the systematic oppression of people on the basis of gender, race, nationality, age, ability and sexuality. The liberation of working people, and, in turn, the abolition of class society, can only come about alongside the struggle for social equality and liberation of all oppressed people, and such struggles are a necessary task of the communist party. The yoke of exploitation and oppression must be lifted from all shoulders or it is not lifted at all.

    8. Modern class society is a sweatshop of nations. Oppressed people, living either in the modern imperialist centers or in the oppressed neo-colonies, suffer under the twin heels of both imperialist masters and local overseers. The right of oppressed people to greater control over their lives — up to and including the formation of their own independent state — is one in which all working people have an interest, since such actions weaken the control imperialism has on the world. While working people might not advocate such action, they can and must respect and support the right of their brothers and sisters to take this course, and understand that such action is but a step on the road to a greater class unity across racial and national lines.

    9. The most basic foundation needed to achieve the goals of working people and their communist party is the organization and mobilization of our brothers and sisters around a platform of action that addresses immediate demands and also points the way to the final battle to overthrow capitalism. This platform should be a combination and distillation of the objective needs and tasks of working people, based on material conditions and flexible in its application.

    10. The communist party is, by necessity, a critically thinking and self-acting party. It must, at once, allow for the widest possible freedom of criticism and debate, while also expecting the highest possible unity in action after its members decide a course of action. This unity can only be based on political principle, which comes about through education, discussion and struggle. The communist party must be flexible enough to allow for discussions to take place before the class as a whole, while at the same time strong enough to withstand attacks that capitalism and its agents wage against the party.

    In uniting as a communist party based on the principles above, we not only declare our unbending opposition to the exploiting and oppressing classes, and their agents, but also their ideologies, “official histories,” and phony “truths” used to swindle members of our class into accepting capitalism as “the only viable system.”

    Moreover, in uniting as a communist party of working people, we declare our rejection of the false “partisans” of our class that, while calling themselves revolutionaries, socialists or even communists, serve as one link in a chain that binds our class to the capitalist system of exploitation and oppression, and appeal to our working brothers and sisters inside of these false-flag organizations to join with us in organizing and fighting for the liberation of our class.

   To these ends, and with a clear understanding of our work ahead, we formally declare our unity and organize ourselves on the basis of the following Constitution and By-Laws.

Article I: Name, Motto and Purpose

    1. The name of this organization shall be the Workers Party in the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the Party or Organization, and publicly referred to as “the Workers Party in America,”  “the Party,” “the WPA” or “the Organization.”

    2. The motto of the Party is “Workers of the World, Unite!”

    3. The purpose of the Party shall be to educate, agitate and organize the working class to defeat capitalism on the political battlefield and establish a working people’s republic as the transition to a classless communist society.

Article II: Emblems

    1. The emblem of the Party shall be a diamond-shaped graphic of four forearms and hands, with the hands clasping each other above the wrist, and each of the arms shaded at different levels, within a gear that has in the upper half the name of the Party and in the lower half the motto of the Party, the name and motto separated at each end by a star.

    2. The standard of the Party shall be a crimson red flag, the length of the flag being twice the width, with the emblem of the Organization in the center colored black.

Article III: Membership

    1. Any working person who accepts the Program and Constitution of the Workers Party in America, agrees to accept the decisions of its constituent organizations and engage actively in its work, and agrees to support the Party financially, shall be eligible for membership.

    2. Applicants for membership shall sign an application statement reading as follows: “I, the undersigned, declare my adherence to the Program and Constitution of the Workers Party in America, agrees to accept the decisions of the Party and its organizations, and to engage actively in its work. I further declare I have no ties to the capitalist class, its agents or its organizations. I understand that if it is discovered that the statements above are knowingly false, I may be expelled from the Party.”

    3. Every member shall join a duly constituted organization of the Party if such exists in the territory where they live. Applicants living in territories where the Party has no organization may become members at-large and are acted on by the Central Committee (C.C.).

    4. All applicants for membership must be endorsed and recommended by one person who has been a member for not less than three months or has been a member of a Charter Organization. An applicant to a constituent organization must be present in person when their application is acted upon.

    5. Applications for membership shall not be acted upon finally until one month after presentation. In the meantime, the applicant shall pay initiation fees and dues and shall attend meetings. This rule shall not apply to charter members of new Party organizations, or to those who make application to the new organizations during the first month.

    6. New members shall serve a probationary period of up to 90 days, during which time they will have all the duties of a member, but only a consultative vote in meetings. This rule shall not apply to members of Charter Organizations, charter members of new Party organizations, or to those who make application to the new organizations during the first month.

    7. Members at-large must report to the C.C. at least once every month.

    8. At all times, Party members must present themselves in the most positive light as possible. All members are expected to adhere to the following Code of Conduct while on assignment or executing their assigned responsibilities:

“A member will not:...

 

“1.    Be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol, or otherwise be so impaired, at Party functions or prior to attending any function as a Party member.

“2.    Steal anything from fellow workers; everything borrowed shall be returned promptly.

“3.    Raise money for him or herself in the name of the Party; all funds collected in the name of the Party shall be turned in to the Treasury immediately.

“4.    Use his or her position in the Party for personal gain, including but not limited to gaining financial or sexual advantage over another person, regardless of Party membership.

“5.    Engage in any intimate activity with any person that is under the age of 18 or the legal age of consent, whichever is lower, if they are above such an age.

“6.    Attempt to coerce people to support or join the Party through threats of, or actual use of, violence; education and leadership by example are the preferred methods.

“7.    Attempt to settle arguments or disagreements of any kind — especially not those of a political nature — through abusive or violent means.

“8.    Engage in ad hominem attacks against any other Party member or honest worker, or seek revenge as a result of a disagreement.

“9.    Discuss internal affairs that are considered members-only by the Party with non-members.

 

“A member will abide by all resolutions, formal requests and decisions published by the Party, though they are not required to participate in any related actions and are not required to refrain from stating their personal views (though they are expected to make clear that they are presenting their personal views, and will also explain the Party’s position), and will at all times present a professional, knowledgeable and disciplined image of the Party to the public.”

Article IV: Supporters

    1. Any working person who has general agreement with the Program of the Party shall be eligible to become a supporter.

    2. Applicants to become supporters shall sign a supporter’s statement reading as follows: “I, the undersigned, agree with the general aims and views of the Workers Party in America as expressed in its Program, and declare my support for them and the Party. As a supporter, I will do what I can to promote the Party and its views, and work whenever and wherever possible with Party members to build and support it. I understand that if it is discovered that the above statements are false, I may be dropped as a supporter by the Party.”

    3. Supporters in a given location may organize themselves into Supporter’s Units (S.U.) and may apply to the C.C. or Convention for the appropriate charter. New supporters in an area where a Supporter’s Unit exists are expected to join that organization.

    4. Supporters will receive a supporter’s book, which allows them to use Party materials to promote the Organization in whatever way they see possible, from their respective S.U. or from the C.C.

    5. Supporters are expected to contribute at least once every three months to the Party an amount equivalent to one month’s dues at the appropriate rate, in exchange for a supporter’s stamp in their supporter’s book. Supporters may pay these donations “in-kind.”

    6. Supporters are expected to pursue Party membership when they feel they can, and should contact the appropriate Party organization when they have made that decision.

    7. Supporters shall be invited to all public Party meetings and events, and individual supporters may be invited to attend internal Party meetings and functions, including the Convention and C.C. meetings.

    8. Multiple S.U.s in a given area may be organized and chartered as a Supporter’s Local (S.L.) attached to a Party Local or Region.

    9. Supporters are given priority in recruitment to membership. A S.U. that applies as a body for Party membership may be admitted as a bloc, and the new members, after paying their initiation fee, may have their probationary period waved by the higher Party organization.

    10. S.U.s are encouraged to organize study and educational groups along with Party organizations, where possible, for the purposes of promoting the political viewpoint of the Organization. Supporter’s study programs will be composed by the C.C. or a designated sub-committee.

Article V: Basic Organization

    1. The basic elements of the organization of the Party shall be:

(a)    The Unit, to consist of no more than 10 and no less than two members, when and where possible.

(b)    Members At-Large, who shall be connected with the nearest Region.

(c)    Such special forms of local organization as may be authorized by the C.C.

    2. Units and other basic organizations of the Party, if they are large enough to need them, may elect a Unit Chairperson to coordinate activities among its members.

    3. Two or more Units in the same city, township or county shall form a Local. The Local may also include Units in adjacent territory. Units formed into a Local shall adhere to the “two-hour rule”  unless authorized by the C.C.

    4. The C.C. is empowered to designate the boundaries of Regions (which may include more than one state or parts of states), such boundaries to be fixed with regard to economic rather than state divisions.

    5. The C.C. may designate a member at-large or group of supporters actively organizing to form a Unit as an Organizing Committee.

Article VI: Administration

    1. The highest decision-making body of the Workers Party in America shall be the Party Convention.

    2. Between Conventions, the C.C., elected by the Convention, shall be the highest body of the Party and shall direct all activities of the Party.

    3. The administrative power of the Region shall be vested in the annual Regional Conference (R.C.).

    4. Between R.C.s, the administrative powers of the Region shall be vested in the Regional Executive Committee (R.E.C.) elected by the R.C. Regional Organizers (R.O.), elected by the R.C. with the advice and consent of the C.C., shall be members of the R.E.C. and carry on their work under its supervision.

    5. The Local Executive Committee (L.E.C.) shall consist of delegates elected by Units. Every Unit shall have one Delegate per three members, and at least one Delegate. The L.E.C. shall meet at least twice a month. The L.E.C. shall elect a Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer and any other officers it deems as necessary.

Article VII: Conventions and Conferences

    1. The Party Convention is the supreme decision-making body of the Party, and shall be called by the C.C. at least once every two years.

    2. Emergency Conventions, with all the powers of regular Conventions, may be called by the C.C. or upon demand of Regions representing 40 percent of the membership.

    3. The number of delegates to the Convention shall be determined by the C.C. Delegates shall be apportioned to the Regions according to membership based upon average dues paid for the period of four months prior to the Call to Convention. The Regions shall apportion the number to be elected by Local Conferences (L.C.) on the same basis.

    4. Delegates to the Convention shall be elected by Regions. Units in organized cities shall elect delegates to a L.C., which in turn shall elect the delegates to the R.C. The number of delegates to which each Unit is entitled shall be decided by the L.E.C. according to membership as above. When there is no Local organization the Unit shall elect delegates directly to the R.C.

    5. Local and Regional Chairpersons and Organizers shall attend the Conferences of their respective organizations and shall have a voice but no vote unless elected as delegates themselves.

    6. L.C.s and R.C.s may elect as their delegates members of the Party from organizations outside their territorial divisions.

    7. At the same time that the Call to Convention is issued, the C.C. shall submit to every Unit for discussion the Agenda and other proposals that are to come before the Convention. At least 60 days before the Convention, a division of the Party Press shall be opened for discussion of important Party matters. R.E.C.s may submit proposals to be included in the Agenda.

    8. All members shall be assessed a Convention Levy to cover costs associated to organization and conduct of the Convention, and the travel and expenses of its members.

Article VIII: Central Committee

    1. Between Conventions, the C.C. shall be the decision-making body of the Party as a whole, shall direct all-Party activities and help coordinate Regional and Local Party activities.

    2. The size and composition of the C.C. shall be decided by the Convention, including full members and alternates to fill vacancies, in order of vote. If the list of alternates is exhausted more than 60 days before the Convention, the C.C. shall have the right to co-opt new members.

    3. The C.C. shall elect the Chairperson and Secretary-Treasurer of the Party, and all other officers.

    4. The C.C. shall approve all R.O.s and all national officials. It shall create sub-committees and commissions for the proper direction of its activities.

    5. The C.C. shall make a monthly report of Party activities and Party finances, itemized by Region.

    6. The C.C. shall divide the country into Regions in accordance with Article IV, Section 4, provided that the boundary lines of the Regions shall not be changed within a period of four months prior to the Convention.

    7. A complete audit and accounting of all Party funds shall be made every six months.

    8. All press and educational activities above the Local level shall be under the control of the C.C.

Article IX: Regions, Locals and Units

    1. The C.C. shall approve all R.O.s.

    2. Every R.O. shall make complete reports to the R.E.C. as to the general Party work in their Region. They shall transmit and carry out the instructions and decisions of the C.C. They shall make remittance and financial statements regularly to the C.C., and shall also submit financial statements to the membership in their Region at least once a month.

    3. R.C.s shall be held before the Party Convention. The R.C. shall elect a R.E.C. and select a nominee for R.O.

    4. The elected R.E.C. members, together with the R.O., who shall also be a member of the R.E.C. with a voice and vote, shall supervise the activities of the Region and shall regularly submit the minutes of their meetings to the C.C. All actions of the R.E.C. are subject to review by the C.C.

    5. The R.E.C. shall determine the boundaries of the Locals.

    6. The L.E.Cs shall consist of delegates representing Units in accordance with their relative memberships. Each Unit shall be represented by at least one delegate. The L.E.C. shall have supervision of all activities in the local and shall make regular reports of its work to the R.E.C.

    7. The L.E.C. may elect a sub-committee to act for the L.E.C. between meetings.

    8. The Unit shall consist of members, as provided in Article III, Section 1. It shall elect a Chairperson, delegates to the L.E.C., and such other officers as may be considered necessary.

Article X: Elected Officials

    1. Members elected to public office are considered representatives of the Party, whether they ran as such openly or not, and shall be expected to implement the decisions of the C.C. and Convention.

    2. Members who are elected officials can hold a position in any Party organization, but no organization above a Local shall consist of a majority of members who are elected officials. When more than two members are elected to the same body, they shall constitute a new Unit and shall be chartered accordingly by the C.C. or Convention.

    3. Members who are elected officials shall submit monthly reports of their actions to the C.C. and annual reports to the Convention.

    4. On all issues related to program and platform, both the general platform and/or any platform adopted for a specific purpose, members who are elected officials are expected to vote together as a bloc. On all other questions, members who are elected officials are expected to bring disputes over decisions to the C.C. or Convention for discussion and resolution.

    5. Any member who is an elected official who consciously and consistently votes in a manner contrary to the spirit and/or sense of the Program and Platforms adopted by the Party may be removed from the Organization by majority vote of the C.C., with a guaranteed right of appeal, or the Convention.

Article XI: Discipline and Membership Responsibilities

    1. Decisions of higher Party organizations shall be binding upon the membership and subordinate elements of the organization. Party members are expected, but not required, to participate in activities, even if they disagree with the decision. No member may actively undermine or sabotage the work of the Party.

    2. Any member or organization violating the decisions of the Party shall be subject to suspension, removal or expulsion by the organization which has jurisdiction. Charges against members shall be made before Units, subject to appeal by either side to the L.E.C. or to the R.E.C., where there is no Local organization. Charges against a Unit shall be made before the L.E.C. or before the R.E.C. where there is no Local organization. Decisions of the L.E.C. in the case of Units shall be subject to review by the R.E.C. Charges against Regions shall be made before the C.C.

    3. Any member or organization found to be collaborating with agents of the capitalist state (including its military-officer corps) shall be subject to suspension, removal or expulsion by the Party organization which has jurisdiction.

    4. Suspension removes a member from Party life, but maintains their responsibilities of membership in place; suspension may or may not be for a definite period of time.

    5. Removal removes a member from all aspects of Party life, but allows for re-admission in the future.

    6. Expulsions, reserved for only the most heinous of offenses, remove a member from all aspects of Party life and preclude re-admission.

    7. Any suspended or removed member who continues to consciously and/or willfully violate the Program and/or Constitution of the Party, publicly divulges the circumstances of their suspension or removal, or engages in any kind of attack on the Party, openly or privately, shall be considered automatically expelled without possibility of appeal or readmission. The C.C. shall effect and enforce this expulsion.

    8. Each organization of the Party shall restrict its activities to the territory it represents, but shall have broad autonomy in the forms and avenues of their work as long as they do not consciously violate the Program and Constitution of the Party.

    9. A member who desires to transfer their membership to another Unit shall have a transfer card from the Secretary-Treasurer of their Unit. No Unit shall receive a member from another Unit without such transfer card and, upon presentation of the card, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Unit receiving same shall make inquiries about the standing of the member to the Secretary-Treasurer issuing the card.

    10. All party organizations shall use uniform application cards, dues books, and accounting records, which shall be printed by the Party Center.

    11. Any suspended, removed or expelled member shall have the right to appeal in writing or in person to the next higher body, up to and including the Party Convention.

Article XII: Dues and Assessments

    1. Each applicant for membership shall pay an initiation fee of $20, which shall be receipted for by an initiation stamp furnished by the C.C. The entire sum shall be remitted to the Party Center. A member may make arrangements with the Secretary-Treasurer of the respective Party organizations to pay the initiation fee in monthly installments.

    2. Each member shall pay monthly dues, calculated on a progressive sliding scale based on net income and circumstances. In exchange for receipt of dues, the Secretary-Treasurer of the respective Party organization shall place a stamp in the member’s book noting payment.

    3. The current dues structure is the following:

    3. Voluntary special assessments may be levied by the Convention or C.C. Mandatory special assessments, like the Convention Levy, must be paid by all members or else no longer be considered in good standing, unless arrangements are made with the Secretary-Treasurer of the respective Party organization.

    4. Married or otherwise united couples belonging to the same Unit may purchase dual stamps, which shall be sold at the same price as the regular stamps. Mandatory special assessments must be paid by both members.

    5. Members who are unemployed, on strike, disabled or otherwise unable to pay dues for similar reasons shall upon application to their respective Secretary-Treasurer be furnished with exempt stamps. Any member may make arrangements to pay their dues “in-kind”  as long as agreement to do so is granted by the Party organization.

    6. Members who are three months in arrears in payment of their dues shall cease to be members of the Party in good standing. Members who are six months in arrears shall be stricken from the rolls. No member shall pay dues in advance for a period of more than six months.

Article XIII: Party Center

    1. The Office and Center of the Party shall be located in the city designated by the Convention.

Article XIV: Qualifications

    1. Members of the C.C., Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, Editor In-Chief, and all candidates for political office must have been (a) members of the Party for two years at the time of their nomination, or (b) members of a Charter Organization, or members of an organization affiliating as a body within 60 days after the first Convention.

    2. One year’s membership in the Party shall be necessary to qualify for membership on the R.E.C.; six months for Local delegates and officers, three months (in the Unit) for Unit officers. This section shall not apply to Unit officers or Local delegates of new Units.

Article XV: Affiliation

    1. Affiliation or disaffiliation of the Party to any organization, national or international, must be ratified by majority vote of the Convention or of a membership referendum. Provisional affiliation can be approved by a two-thirds vote of the C.C.

    2. Affiliation to the Party of any organization must be ratified by majority vote of the Convention or of a membership referendum. Provisional affiliation can be approved by a two-thirds vote of the C.C.

Article XVI: Amendment and Suspension

    1. Substantive amendment of this Constitution shall require a two-thirds vote of a Party Convention or of a membership referendum. Minor amendment, for purposes of clarification or correction, or changes to the By-Laws shall require only a majority vote of a Party Convention or membership referendum.

    2. In a situation where the forces of the capitalist state have directly targeted the Party for destruction, or when the capitalist state has declared or otherwise established a state of martial law, the C.C. has the authority to suspend this Constitution as a measure to protect the Organization as a whole. Suspension requires a two-thirds vote of the C.C. and must be ratified by two-thirds of the R.O.s. If members of the C.C. or R.O.s have been arrested, the remaining members and R.O.s who are free shall be empowered to make these decisions, even if they constitute a minority of the pre-emergency number.

    3. If a majority of Charter Organizations withdraw their support from the Party, the C.C. has the authority to suspend the Constitution by two-thirds vote pending an Emergency Convention to decide the fate of the Organization. Charter Organizations reserve the right to veto decisions of the Party based on a written statement submitted to the appropriate Party body.

Article XVII: By-Laws for Party Organizations

    1. The Standard Order of Business for all Party organizations below the C.C. shall be based on the following:

1.    Election of Presiding Officers (ignore when Officers are elected for term)

2.    Roll Call of Officers

3.    Reading of Minutes

4.    Applications for Membership

5.    Payment of Dues

6.    Admission and Obligation of Members

7.    Correspondence and Bills

8.    Report of Officers

9.    Report of Commissions (if necessary)

10.    Report of Delegates

11.    Election of Officers and Commissions (if necessary)

12.    Press and Literature

13.    Unfinished Business

14.    New Business

15.    Political Discussion

16.    Reading of Receipts and Expenses since Last Meeting

17.    Good and Welfare

18.    Adjournment

    2. Party organizations shall be composed according to the appropriate sections of the Constitution of the Party. Party organizations receive their charters from the C.C. or Convention, and can only surrender their charters to those bodies at their written request.

    3. Party organizations shall meet at least once a month and as often as necessary or possible according to members’ schedules. Under normal circumstances, a majority of members or delegates shall constitute a quorum.

    4. No member shall be excluded from any position in the Party on the basis of race or nationality, gender, sexuality, age, ability or citizenship status. No worker shall be excluded from membership in the Party on the basis of their personal religious belief.

    5. Probationary and initiated members who do not attend meetings for more than three months after initiation forfeit their initiation fee.

    6. When a question arises as to eligibility of an applicant or member, the C.C. shall decide.

    7. Officers designated by the Constitution or otherwise deemed necessary by Regions, Locals and Units shall be elected every six months. Nominations will be made in the months of May and November, with elections held in June and December. Officers shall start their terms upon election. All officers are subject to immediate recall by members, with interim officers chosen at the same meeting where the recall was approved to serve until the next regular election.

    8. Any officer absent from meetings for more than three months without valid excuse shall be removed and their office deemed vacant. The election to fill the vacancy will be held at the next regular meeting.

    9. Local Secretaries-Treasurer shall provide a list of Unit and Local officers to the Regional Secretary-Treasurer, who in turn will submit an aggregated list to the Secretary-Treasurer of the C.C., for the purposes of compiling the Party’s internal Official Directory.

    10. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep minutes of the proceedings of each meeting, maintain the organization treasury and finances, prepare and keep financial records and statements for the Party, including apportionment of dues and assessments, receive and attend to all correspondence, dues and assessment payments, handle applications for membership, keep a complete and updated list of members for their organization, pay all bills and debts incurred by the Party organization, and be responsible, along with the Chairperson, for depositing funds in and withdrawing funds from a designated Party bank account.

    11. The Chairperson shall be the spokesperson for the Party organization, convene meetings, supervise recruitment and educational activities, and be responsible, along with the Secretary-Treasurer, for depositing funds in and withdrawing funds from a designated Party bank account. The Chairperson may also take responsibility for receiving and attending to all correspondence to and from the Party organization.

    12. Party organizations may also elect a Security Chief to have charge of the door and see that none but members enter, unless decided otherwise by the organization. The Security Chief will check all membership books to see they are genuine, accurate and the member is in good standing, with all discrepancies reported to the Chairperson.

    13. All officers will maintain a portfolio in which they will keep all records and items of their term. The portfolio will be considered property of the Party, and outgoing officers are expected to turn their portfolios over to their successors or the Party organization upon removal or resignation from office.

    14. Members transferring from one Unit to another must be paid up in dues and assessments before receiving a transfer card. If a member falls into arrears after receiving a transfer card, they must pay up to the Unit they are seeking to join before the Secretary-Treasurer of that Unit accepts the transfer and enters their name in the rolls.

    15. Members voluntarily resigning from the Party who are paid up in dues and assessments may receive a withdrawal card from the Secretary-Treasurer of their Unit. Withdrawal cards may not be used in place of transfer cards, and do not confer any rights or privileges. Withdrawal cards are only a statement that its holder left the Party honorably and in good standing. A withdrawal card exempts its holder from having to pay an initiation fee if they choose to re-apply for membership in the future. Withdrawal cards submitted by a member while they are on strike may be judged on a case-by-case basis. Withdrawal cards will not be issued to members under suspension, or to those facing suspension, removal or expulsion.

    16. All resignations must be put into writing, with reasons stated. No member may be forced to involuntarily resign. No action shall be taken on a resignation until the resigning member has settled accounts with the Party organization, and their dues and assessment payments are up to date.

    17. Regions and Locals may levy additional dues and assessments on members to cover the costs of their own work, but these levies may not exceed 50 percent of the dues or assessments owed to the Party as a whole.

    18. Only members in good standard shall be allowed a substantive vote in meetings.

    19. Party organizations changing location for public meetings and events must notify the next higher body and the C.C. so that the Public Directory may be updated and the move can be noted in the Party Press.

    20. Party organizations can adopt their own sets of by-laws to cover questions not addressed in this document or the Constitution, subject to the approval of the next higher body.

    21. Any Party organization surrendering its charter, voluntarily or by request of the C.C. or Convention, will have a Receiver appointed by the C.C. or Convention to take inventory of all Party property, including their treasury, officer portfolios, supplies, office space, literature, and the charter itself. Any member or officer refusing to deliver these items to the Receiver shall be expelled from the Party and may face legal action if such is warranted.

    22. Party organizations are encouraged to organize, or work with other working people’s organizations to organize, annual public events and celebrations around International Workers’ Day (May 1) and International Working Women’s Day (March 8). Party organizations are also encouraged to organize regular public events and social gatherings for the purpose of allowing members, supporters and friends of the Party to meet each other.

Adopted as a Working Draft by the Assembly of the Whole, December 22, 2008