CORRS TIiTreyesytrfow#r Oo F THEE # # G As passed by the Fusion Conference, May 1987 This bulletin is for supporters and sympathisers of the **#G only
CONSTITUTION OF THE ##* GROUP L Aims The ##* Group is a revolutionary Marxist organisation committed to the ~ overthrow of the historically outmoded capitalist system and the oppressive and destructive social order that supparts it. In accordance with the principle of revolutionary Marxism, the ### Group believes that the liberation of humankind from exploitation and oppression can only come about. through the decisive action of the revolutionary class of our period. - .the: proletariat... The #*# Group is therefore committed to the — construction of a revolutionary leadership for the working class andoppressed — - a revolutionary party.
The programme of. the *#G shall be based on the Communist Manifest, the dacuments of the Firet International, of the first four Congresses of the Communist International, of the Bolshevik-Leninist Left Opposition and the Founding Conference of the Fourth International.
Understanding the fundamental international character of the capitalist system in the imperialist epoch, and the corresponding international character of the class struggle, the ### Group believes that the building of the revolutionary party is a task that can only be fulfilied on an international scale. To this end the *#* Group is committed .to loyally building the U#F# as a key component of a future mass revolutionary, international, The organisational methods of the ##* Group flow from these fundamental objectives. A special form of organisation is required that can fuse the development of revolutionary leadership with the stimulation of the autonomous activity of the working class and oppressed. This organisational form is democratic centralism. It is based on the most cohesive, collective functioning, developed through democratic debate and common political understanding, and founded upon disciplined and united action in the class struggle. It is essential to create an organisation with a membership trained in critical methods of thought and revolutionary initiative, capable of assuming leadership of the mass struggle; to forge links between the organisation and the most advanced layers of the working class; to build a leadership which has the confidence of the ranks, and eventually of-the class, and is therefore capable of acting decisively as the class struggle demands and to > transform the organisation into. the coliective spokesperson and leadership of the working class as a whole. Only a. democratic centralist organisation can do this, This constitution: is a general guide to the implementation of democratic centralism. A democratic centralist organisation must be politically fought for, and cannot simply be established by the adoption of specific formulae or statutes,
Constitution Members must: i) Be committed to defend the basic aims and programme of the arganisation in words and deed. ii) Engage in regular political activity under the discipline and direction of a branch, or other appropriate responible ‘body, the Central - Committee or its delegated bodies. 1iid Ba a member of their appropriate trade union branch, unless exempted by decision of the branch or other - ‘appropriate bady.. iv) Sell cur publications regularly unless exempted by decision of the branch, or other appropriate body. v) Pay regular dues to the organisation as laid-dowm by the Central Committee, a 3, Peoruitment i) Applications for membership should be handled through the nearest branch or working group ta where the applicant lives or works, Where no. | branch or working group exists, applications should be handled directly . by tha Central Committee and members so recruited shall be known as members at large. ii) Recruitment is by a simple majority vate with the applicant not present Do Lid) Applications for nenbershtp from former leading members of. other organisations, members of Parliament and national officials of trade unions are subject | to ratizicatt on- by the CC or PC. iv) The CC is empowered to accept ‘the members of eligible groups or arganisations ( te those subscribing to the aims of the #G outlined above). as members en bloc and to assign them to the appropriate branches, provided that such groups’ or organisations number less. than 20% of the total full membership of the organisation. The adherence of any larger group or organisation must be approved at and by a Conference dacision, v) Members in good standing of sections and sympathising organisations of the U#F#¥ in other countries who move to Britian are automatically antitled to become full members af the ¥*G. vi) Previously expelled members of the organisation may not be readmitted without ratification by the CC or Conference,
Cons titution 4 Candidate Membership New members will as a rule be required to join the #G as candidate members. i> Candidate members have all the rights and duties of full members except as restricted by other sections of this constitution. ii) New members are admitted as candidate members either by the collective decisicn of the branch they join, or in the case of members. at large, by the Central Committee. iii) Candidate members do not have the right to'a full vote, either at branch or national level, They shall instead have an indicative vote, iv) Candidate membership shall be for an initial period of three months.
At the end of this period the candidate member shall have their membership reviewed by the responsible bady. This body may then decide, by majority vote, ta admit the candidate to full membership, reduce them to the state of sympathiser, or extend the candidacy for a further period not in excess of three months, v) Candidate members aré expected to engage in a course of education under the. supervision of the relevant body, 5, Regulation o enbershi i) Full members have a right and responsibility to play an active. part in the decision making process of the organisation through the various bodies which the organisation has established for this purpose, ii) Members may request, and be granted at the discretion of the responsible body, leave of absence normally for periods not in excess of three months in any one year. iii) Members who require to withdraw from political activity on personal grounds for a longer period of time may be reduced ta the status of... sympathiser, without prejudice, at the discretion of the responsible body. Refusal to grant such a request may be appealed to higher bodies, up to.and including the CC. iv) Any member. who, | without, being granted leave of absence, is politically inactive for a Long period of time, including persistent failure to attend meetings of the branch or equivalent body, or carry out specific political tasks assigned by responsible bodies, may be removed from membership, either with or without prejudice. v) Members who are more than three months in arrears of duee shall be held to be in bad standing, and may be reduced to the status of sympathiser by resolution of the responsible bady, Such action will not be deemed a disciplinary action for the purposes of this constitution.
Constitution vi) A decision to remove a full member from membership without prejudice can only be taken with the member’s consent or at a meeting of the branch or responsible bady to which the member has received a written invitation giving at least one week's notice, has had adequate opportunity to attend and state objections, and has failed to do so.
Appeal from such a decision will lie with leadership badies only ¢ on the grounds of proper procedure not having been observed. : ae vii) Decisions to remove from. membership with prejudice, or against the objections of the member in question, are to be considered as disciplinary actions, and are-subject to the rules and procedures outlined in the section on Discipline. viii) A member who has left or been removed from membership without prejudice and who reapplies ta join may have his or her application dealt with by the branch or other responsible body, who may wave the candidate membership requirement at their discretion. ix) A member who has been removed with prejudice must have any appiicalioe for readmission ratified by the Central Committee or esponsible sub-committee, and may only be exempted from tha period af candidate membership with the approval of the latter. x) Any misappropriation ar abuse of the organisation's funds or property shall be treated as a serious disciplinary matter. xi) The resignation of any member shall be reported to the branch or working group to which he or she belongs, and to the CC in the case of members of the leadership. os xii) All resignations / removals from membership must immediately be notified to the Political Committee in writing. 6, athisar Sympathisers of the organisation are non-members who are in braad agreement with the. aims of the organisation and collaborate with the organisation's policial work by financial support or by sale of the press. sic Or Lsat cture The basic unit of the organisation is the branch. Except those members recognised by the CC as members at large, all mémbers must belong to and work under the discipline of a branch, attending its meetings, The task. of the branch is to apply and elaborate the line of the organisation under the direction of its leading bodies, and to organise and direct the political work of its members and to be responsibie for arganising. educational discussions, i) Branches shall convene a . branch conference within 2 months of a national conference to discuss the local implementation of the. perspectives agreed there and to reelect the branch leadership.
Constitution ii) Each branch shall elect an organiser, a.treasurer and a party press organiser, and in larger branches a branch committee, to organise the work of the branch. Branch officers and committee are responsible to the branch. , . , iii) Branches may appoint any other officers and establish any committees or other bodies that they think would be useful to organise their political work. iv) The CC shall control the recognition and establishment of branches according ta criteria which may be laid dawn. Where the CC decides that ‘these criteria are not met the group of members shall function as a working group. v> Working groups and nevibers at large. shall where possible be linked together with the nearest relevant branch, or Area Committee where appropriate, which will guide and support their work. . Otherwise they shall operate under the direction of the CC and delegated bodies. vi) Between branch naetings the. right to take decisions and give instructions belongs normally to the branch organiser, Where a particular issue may have implications for the organisation as a whole the organiser should consult the PC, vii) All branch, area ar regional Standing Orders shall be subject ta the approval of the CC and nothing in such Standing Orders shall contradict the provisions of this Constitution. viii) Fractions shall be convened, under the direction of the CC, to organise and elaborate a particular polical intervention. They shall be open to all comrades engaged in-that political intervention, All branches will be encouraged to send a representative to the fraction, ix) Additionally the CC may convene such commissions as it sees fit to develop analysis on any ‘Per ttcuiar subject or area of work, rea Structures _4) The definition of an area will be “decided by the CC. in consultation with branches. ii) Area aggregate meetings will be convened to discuss the intervention of the organisation in the area and the election of an area leadership. iii) The area leadership is responsible for the overall work of the area and for the coordination of the work of the branches, iv) Area aggregates to meet at least quarterly. The area leadership ta be elected annually, and after each National Conference. é a itte
Constitution The Central Committee is the sovereign body. of the #G between conferences.. It is responsible for the political decision making and group organisation. Its decisions are binding on all members. i) The CC is elected by Conference ii) The preparation of an integrated proposal on the composition of the Central Committee shall be entrusted by Conference to a Nominations Commission, elected at the start of Conference. This Commission shall be genuinely, independent of the outgoing leadership, none of whose members shall be eligible for membership of the Commission. The outgoing leadership is free however to make submissions to the Commission for its guidance. The Nominations Commission shall receive submissions concerning the criteria for membership and composition of the new leadership. It shall have the authority to enquire into the suitability of any member. ta be entrusted with leadership responsibilities. The final decision in the election of leadership lies with Conference, Election of the leadership may ‘take piace by secret ballot or by show. of hands, iii) The Composition af the CC shall be such as to ensure a stable majority of members who support the political line determined by Conference. Within this framework the CC shall alsa breadly reflect the numerical weight of different tendencies or factions in the organisation, as determined by the voting of different line documents at Conference, iv) The CC will be bound by the decisions of Conference. If immediate events necessitate a substantial. change in the line of Conference, the CC may change the line but.must immediately call a new Conference. v) If state repression makes it.impossible to call a Conference, or to call a representative conference, the NC may co-apt additional members and is empowered to direct the affairs of the organisation until such time as a proper conference can be organised. vi) The CC shall meet normally every two months and at least every three months, | vil) The CC shall meet in emergency session within one week of receipt of a written appeal signed by at least 25% of the full membere of the CC or within the time specified in any such appeal, if this is greater than one week. viii) Any member at large, branch, sub-committee, fraction, tendency or faction can submit a resolution ta the CC. viii) The CC shall function as a collective: unit, its members responsible to it for their conduct, and determining its own procedures, subject only to the constitution and Conference decisions, we ix) CC members must not appose or agitate against implementation of CC decisions in other badies of the organisation (sub-committees, fractions or branches). This pravision does not affect the right and duty of CC
Constitution members to explain the differences within the CC in CC report backs; nor does it affect the right to criticise majority poicy. OCC members are responsible to the CC as a whole, and not to any particular grouping in the organisation, x) Any matter of discipline concerning a CC member is the concern of the CC, which shall determine the disciplinary procedures to be followed, subject only to the general provisions of the constitution. xi) Minutes of the CC shall be circulated to all members of the #6, subject..only. ta considerations of security. Such minutes will normally © include the full text of all resolutions and amendments put, and the vote, xii) Relations with other organisations as such or with members of other organisation shall be entirely under the control of the CC and those bodies and individuals appointed by the CC to conduct these relations.
Q, The iti onmittee The PC is a sub-committee of the CC. It is responsible for the day to day implementation of CC decisions; for reacting to events that require’ immediate action and.for political leadership. At all times’the PC is answerable, to the CC.- mS ; i) The PC shall be elected by and responsible to the cc, ii) Minutes of the PC shall be circulated ‘to all members of the CC and» the Control Commission. iii) The PC shall normally meet once a week, iv) The PC shall prepare and convene the Central Committee. imers The CC shall elect full time workers and delegate to them the authority necessary to carry out their: functions under PC and CG cantrol,” i) Full timers shall be: gully accountable . to their appointing” bodies and © are under an obligation to keep them fully. informed of their work and to consult with them on matters of major political importance. ii) Recall of a ‘full timer may ‘be carried aut ‘by the appointing body at any time by an ordinary resolution, adopted after’a discussion at which the fulltimer has been given an opportunity to be present. Such recall is not a disciplinary action’ for the purposes of this Constitution, iii) The pay, terms of reference and dismissal of full-timers shall be decided by the CC and subject»to annual review.’
Constitution iv) Under no circumstances shall a full timer's wage be greater than the average for a skilled worker, v) ALL political full timers shall automatically be subject to reappointment when the bady to which they are responsible vacates Office, 12. Finance 1) All members of the organisation have an obligation to contribute regularly towards the financial needs of the organisation. The CC shall fix an obligatory monthly scale of dues which every member must pay. ii) A portion of the organisations funds, to be determined in consultation with the. International, shall be allocated as the Organisations International dues, | 13. tion: nferencs The National Conference is the supreme policy-making body of the #G and can overide any other body in the #G, Its decisions are binding on all members, branches, cammittees, fractions, full timers and other units of the organisation. Conference has the full and exclusive right to determine its own procedures, order of business, officers and other matters connected with its deliberations. . i) The Conference shall be convened normally every 12 months and at least every 16 months. ii) The Central Committee is responsible for the convening and arranging of the conference. It. shall be assisted in the arranging of the Conference by a Conference Organising Committee, convened by a member of the Central ‘Committee. 1iijAt least four nonths notice of the convening of Conference shall, be given by the Central Committee. The pre~Conference discussion period shall open automatically one month after the giving of such notice. iv) Conference will. also be convened by the Central Committee within four months of the first CC meeting to which a written demand for an Emergency Conference signed by not fewer than one third of the full members of ‘the organisation shall have been presented. v)The CC and delegated bodies are charged with the organising of the pre-Conference discussion in such a way as to ensure its democratic, orderly and effective character. In particular: a) they shall ensure the publication of written contributions to the discussion in such a manner that guarantees both the rights of individual members to freely contribute and the rights of the whole membership to have full and adequate opportunity to study such positions
Constitution b) they shail organise pre-conference discussions throughout the organisation to ensure a full elaboration of all political differences before the whole organisation © c) they shall not interfere with the right of any member to contribute to the discussion on any matter of their choosing, except on the. grounds of a serious threat to the security of the organisation, and any such decision shall automatically and immediately be. referred to the. Control Commission, bs vi) It shall be a normal responsibility of the CC to open the preconference discussion with a text or texts on the most important questions facing the organisation. However the opening of the preconference discussion period shall not be contingent upon the appearance of such a text, ts vii)? Delegates to the Conference shall be elected no-more.than two weeks prior to the convening of the Conference. Elections shall be conducted . in such a way-as ta ensure as precise a reflection as practical.of the numerical weight of different tendendies. Priority in debate. will. be given to full delegates. oy ise viii) Yoting on documents in the branches ar other appropriate units, Shall be for the sole, purpose of aiding in the determination of the numerical weight of different tendencies or written positions prior to the election of delegates, No such vate will be bind delegates in any way, or in any other way infringe on the sovereignty of Conference. ix) With the convening of conference the CC is dissolved. CC members shall assume the.status of consultative delegates to the Conference, . with speaking. rights and a consultative vote. x) A presiding committes shall’ be responsible for the running of the conference. It shall be elected by the conference and reflect the weight of the different tendencies as represented in the voting in the branches of the organisation, The term of office of all other elected committees of the #G ends at the beginning of conference. 14. international Conferance An International Conference of the #G must take place not more than two months before the date fixed for the World Congress of the U#F#, The purpose. of this Conference is to discuss the draft resolutions presented for voting at the World Congress and to elect the delegates of the 4G to the World Congress - 15. Party Democracy i) All members of the #G are obliged ta support the. majority decisions of the relevant #G bodies in action. They also have a right to express dissenting opinions, to gain a fair hearing for those opinions and to organise within the #G to change 8G‘ policy.
Constitution ii) Members do not have the right to organise outside the #G or the U#R* for minority views. This does not mean they should pretend to hold beliefs contrary to their real ones. Minority comrades have a right ta state they hold minority positions and ta give a brief. explanation, but without making propaganda against the majority line. They have a duty to state ta the best of their ability what the majority line is. In any vate or practical action they must support the majority lines, Members do not have the right to take. internal organisational disputes outside tho #G@ or UtFe in any way, iii) Ho member shall in any way be subject to sanctions inside the organisation for the orderly expression of opinion, or the exercise of eny other right laid down by the Constitution, iv) All badies of the organisation are under obligation to conduct their affairs in such a way as to ensure the right of every member to play a full role in the internal life of the organisation, and to ensure that decisions are made in accardance with democratic norms. It shall be a norm of membership that comrades should not use the experience of higher ar further education, sexism or racism-as a means of inhibiting the~ carticlpation of other comrades in discussion. ¥) Yo member may threaten to resign from any elected position in the group as a way of influencing the decisions of any bady of the organisation, on any question vi) The CC shall ensure the regular publication of an internal discussion bulletin open to the whole membership, for the purposes of daveloping and clarifying the political and theoretical views of the organisation. It shall also provide a means of generalising the lessons that have been learnt from activity ina particular area, industry, union, social movement etc.
To this end: a) the IDBs shall be produced regularly, at intervals laid down by the CC or Conference. bd) an IDB editor, appointed by the PC is responsible for the production and distribution of the IDB. ce) The editor has no right in the first instance ta refuse for publication any article submitted by the IDB deadline provided it neets the word limit and format specifications agreed by the CC or delegated body. In cases of. dispute the article should be referred to the Control Commission. d) the IDB editor has the right and duty to edit documents for the purposes of security. e) Any member submitting a document ta the IDB which meets the agreed specifications has the right to insist it is circulated within two weeks. : - 10 -
Constitution f) Any comrade unable to. meet the format specifications laid down. by. the CC or Conference has the right ta communicate with the’ ‘full: heimall staff to seek assistance in the publication of documents... rips g) Every member shall receive a capy. h) The bulletin shall be for members and sympathisers - as agreed by the..appropriate unit - only. The. IDB and its contents shall not in any way be communicated to ather people without the express permission of the PC or other leading body. 1 Tendencies and Fact Members of the organisation shall have the right to constitute themselves in organised tendencies or. factions, on the basis of a clear political platform, This platform mist be circulated to. all members of the organisation in advance of calling a meeting to establish the tendency or faction.
The definition of a tendency shall be a grouping in the organisation based on a written political platform, which. can argue for. one or a number of different positions within the organisation. It shall normally be formed for the duration of the pre~Conference discussion only. A faction is a grouping which over a period of time. of discussion and clarification. fights for a platform and an alternative teadership based an that platform. i) The rights of such minorities shall include: a) the right to meet collectively to elaborated and define their political views, and the most effective way of fighting for them in the organisation b) the right toa collectively present these views ta the organisation c) the right to adequate opportunity in pre-Conference or other internal discussions and at Conference ta explain and develop their positions before the whole membership in counterposition to other tendencies and factions. ii) The CC may take measure to additionally extend the rights and priveleges of minorities in the interests of the unity and democracy of the whole organisation. Any such measures shall be based upon clear and impartial criteria which apply equally to all minorities. iid) Membership of..a: tendency . shall, be open:to all members of the ¥*G who agree with the platform of that tendency. iv) Membership of a faction shall be open to all those who agree with the platform of the faction and in addition agree ta be bound by the discipline of that faction in internal debate. ~ +2 -
Constitution The Rights of the Oppressed i) The organisation recognises that certain forms of oppressive social relationships and ideas are prevalent in cpaitalist society and act as a powerful black to the unity of the working class and the oppressed in the struggle against the capitalist social order. It therefore views. the regulation of social relationships through racism, sexism, heterasexism and all use of violance as against the interests of the working class. It will consider itself entitled to take up as a political matter any such action by any of its members whether in private or in public and whether between members of the organisation or not. ii) The organisation recognises that it has a collective responsibility for the welfare of its members. It will at all levels work to ensure that the burdens and pressures imposed by class society are borne as equally as possible by the whole organisation in the interests of maximising its unity and the potential of its militants. The organisation recognises the need to take responsibility for the organisation of childcare to enable members with such responsibilities to participate as fully as possible in the life of the organisation, Lii) Women comrades, black comrades and lesbian and gay comrades have the right to caucus at local or national level or within the leadership.
The leadership has a duty to positively facilitate such caucussing.
Attendance at such caucuses is purely on the basis of defining yourself as part of the relevant oppressed graup and not with agreement on any particular political line or participation in a particular political intervention. The purpose of such caucusses is to discuss the situation af this particular group within the organisation and to report back, with proposals where apprapriate, to the branch, leadership or other relevant body.. iL) Any member or group of members shall have the right toa bring charges against any member, The basis for such charges shail be that a member is acting outside the constitution; acting in contravention of the decisions of conference, the leadership or a bady to which they are specifically responsible; acting against the security of the organisation or in flagrant violation of. the interests of the working class, : ii) All members who have charges brought against them - the accused shall receive one week's written notice of ons charges and the date of the. hearing, ; iii) All accused shall have the right to have another mamber with them at the hearing and, if they wish, to have this member present their case, :
Constitution iv) All accused shall have the right to call witnesses, present their awn account of the circumstances and hear and answer all evidence against them:including by questioning witnesses... mye _ Vv) Members bringing charges - the accuser(s) - shall have. the. right to haye another,.member with them at the hearing and if they wish to have that member. ‘present . their case. ; vid the ‘accuser (3) shall have the rigbt to present, their case, to. call witnesses and to question the accused and their witneses. tee vii) Charges-shall be heard by the lowest possible tier of the organisation. The level of the organisation. to which a complaint is” brought shall be obliged to hear the case as set out in points ii) through vi) above. There shall be an appeals procedure which allows both accuser and accused opportunity to appeal on any decision to higher bodies up to and including the CC and, in the case of expulsions, or in other casas with the support of the Control Commission, to the Conference and the U#F¥, subject to the statutes of the Usk# wiii) The sanctions which may be impos ads ‘Qn any member or body found guilty of disciplinary charges shall not goa beyond reasonable political or organisational sanctions, the highest form-of which shall. be, expulsion, xi) The Contrel Camission shall consist of a majority of women who shall have the right to hear evidence in private if required. 19. The Control Commission 1) A Control Commission shall be elected by Conference. WNone of its members shall be on the Central Committee. It shall at all times be completely independent of the elected leadership of the organisation. ii) It shail be charged with the work of safeguarding all aspects of party democracy and discipline. It shail be invested by Conference with full authority to investigate any matter it feels comes into this category, and to report and advise the CC or other appropriate bady on its findings. iii) The Control Commission shall have the right to have a written report (subject to considerations of security) circulate to the membership, iv) The Control Commission shall have the right ta attend as an observor at any meeting in the organisation in respect of Control Commission business. The function of such chservar status shall be for the purposes of safeguarding party democracy and discipline and in no way should such special rights of observation interfere with the independence and separation of the Control Commission from the elected leadership. = 13 -
Constitution v) The Control Commission shall have the right to scrutinise any documents produced in the organisation; and to require. any member or bady to preduce before it any other material which may be deemed by it ‘of relevance to its work. , ce : vid Once it has concluded an investigation, the Control Commission shall be empowered to present a report of its inquiries, including any recommendations on action that it wishes to be taken, to any body that is conducting a hearing under the Cade of Discipline or to any leadership body, vii) The Control Commission's powers shali be limited to the above, and shall not include any executive powers. I+ shall however have the right to address itself to Conference on any matter it sees fit. It shall be required to present a report of its work to each Conference, viii) Any member or body may at any time approach the Control Commission, and may request their involvement at any stage of disciplinary proceedings. The decision on whether or not to take up. any question will lie with the Control Commission. Any disciplinary proceedings which result in the imposition of sanctions against a member or body shall be reported to the Control Commission. - 14 -