CONSTITUTION OF THE #44 GROUP LAims 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 supports 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 and oppressed ~ a revolutionary party.
The programme of the ##G shall be based on the Communist Manifesto, the documents of the First International, of the first four Congresses of the Communist International, of the Bolshevik-Leninist Left Opposition and the Founding Conference of the Fourth Internationai.
Understanding the fundamental international character of the capitalist system in the imperialist epach, and the correspending international character of the class struggle, the ### Group believes that the building of the revolutionary party is a task that can only be fulfilled 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 methads 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 collective spokesperson and leadership of the working class as a whole. Only a democratic centralist organisation can do this.
This constitution is a generai 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 2. Membership Members must: 4) Be committed to defend the basic aims and programme of the organisation 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. iii? Be a member of their appropriate trade union branch, unless exempted by decision of the branch or other appropriate body. iv) Sell cur publications regularly unless exempted by decision of the branch, or other appropriate bady. v) Pay regular dues ta the organisation as laid down by the Central Committee, oo 1) Applications for membership should be handled through the nearest oranch or working group to where the applicant lives or works. Where no branch or working group exists, applications should be handled directly by the Central Committee and members so recruited shall be known as members at large. ii) Recruitment is by a Simple majority vate with the applicant nat preseat ; iii) Applications for membership from former leading members of other organisations, members cf Parliament and national officials of trade unions are subject ta ratification by the CC or PC. iv) The CC is empowered to accept the members of eligible groups or organisations ( ie 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 he: ‘approved at and by a Conference decision. v) Members in good standing cf sections and sympathising organisations of the U*F* in other countries who move to Britian are automatically entitled to become fuli members of the 4G. vi) Previously expelled members of the organisation may not be readmitted without ratification by the CC or Conference.
Constitution 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 decision of the branch they join, or in the case of members at large, by the Central Committee, iii) Candidate members do net 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 periad of three months.
At the end of this period the candidate member shall have their membership reviewed by the respansible bady. This body may then decide, by majority vote, to admit the candidate to full membership, reduce them to the state of sympathiser, or extend the candidacy for a further pericd not {1 excess of three months, v) Candidate meribers are expected to engage in a course of education under the supervision of the relevant body. 5, Rosulaticon of Membership i) Bull mambers have a right and responsibility to play an active part in the decision making process of the organisation through the various bedies which the organisation has established for this purpose. ii) Neubers nay 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 yaar. iii) Members who require to withdraw from political activity on personal grounds for a longer period of time may be reduced to 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 abdsance, 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) Membars who are more than three months in arrears of dues shall be held to be in bad standing, and may be reduced to the status of sympathiser by resolution of the responsible body. 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 body 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 iie with leadership badies only on the grounds of proper procedure not having been observed. vii) Decisions toa.remove from membership with prejudice, or against the objections of the member in question, are to be considered as disciplinary actions, and are subject ta the rules and procedures outlined in the saction cn Discipline.
Vili) A manber who has left or been removed from nenbership without prajudice and who reapplies to join may have his or her application deait 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 application for readmission ratified by the Central Committee or ravvonsible sub-committee, and may only be exempted from the periad of Viuei:dats mambearship with the approval of the latter. x) Any misappropriation or abuse of the organisation's funds or property shali be traated as a serious disciplinary matter. xi) The resignation of any member shall be reported to the branch or warking group to which he or she belongs, and to the CC in the case of wonbers of the leadership. xii) All resignations / removals from membership must immediately be ‘notified to the Political Committees in writing.
LL Sympathisers Sympathisers of the organisation are non-members who are in broad agreewint with the aims of the organisation and collaborate with the organisation's policial work by financial support or by sale of the press, asic Orzvanisational Structure The basic unit of the organisation is the branch. Except those members recognised by the CC as members at large, all members must belong to and work under the discipline cf a branch, attending its meetings. The task of the branch is to “pply and elaborate the line of the organisation under the diraction of its leading bodies, and to organise and direct she political work of its members and to be responsibie for organising aducational discussions. i) Branches ¢ball convene a branch conference within @ months of a national conference to discuss the local implementation of the perspectives agreed there and to reelect the branch leadership,
Constitution ii) Hach branch shall elect an organiser, a treasurer and a party press n organiser, and in larger branches a branch committee, to organise the work of the branch. Branch officers and committee are responsible to the branch. 4ii) 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 cantrol the racognition and establishment of branches according to criteria which may be laid down. . Where the CC decides that these criterla are not met the group of members shall function as a working group. v) Working groups and members 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. Qtherwise they shall operate under the direction of the CC and delegated bodies. vi) Between branch meetings 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 or regional Standing Orders shall be subject to the approval of the CC and nothing in such Standing Orders shall contradict the provisions of this Constitution. vili) 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 senda representative to the fraction. ix) Additionally the CC may convene such commissions as it sees fit ta develop analysis on any particular subject or area of work, Struct 4) The definition of an area will be decided by the CC in consultation with branches. 1i) Area aggregate meetings will be canvened 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 to be elected annually, and after each National Conference. 9, The Central Committee Man maMreAns ie teats om orumenertanmaunsn ime teases Cen yaad reer + rer enerrveve eum esac ep pede Lem
Cons stitution The Central Committee is the sovereign bady 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 CG 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 to be entrusted with leadership responsibilities. The final decision in the election of leadership ilies” with Conference. Election of the leadership may take place by secret ballot or by show of hands. iii) The Composition of the CC shall be such as to ensure a stable majority cf members wha support the political line determined by Conference, Within this framework the CC shall also broadly reflect the numerical weight of different tendencies or factions in the organisation, as determined by the voting of different ine document Ss 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. vid Tae CC shall meet normally every two months and at least every three months. vil) The CC shall meet in emergency session within one weak of receipt of a written appeal signed by at least 25% of the full members of the CC or within the time specified in any such appeal, if this is greater than ona week. viii) Any member at large, branch, sub-committee, fraction, tendency or faction can submit a resolution to 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 ta the constitution and Conference decisions. ix) CC members must not Gppose or agitate against implementation of CC decisions in other bodies of the organisation (sub-committees, fractions or branches). This provision 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. CC members are responsible to the CC as a whole, and not to any particular grauping 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 anly to the general provisions of the constitution. xi) Minutes of the CC shall be circulated to all members of the #6, subject only to 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. 10, The Political Committee The PC is a sub-committee of the CC. It is responsible for the day to day implementation af CC decisions; for reacting to events that require immediate action and for political leadership. At all times the PC is answerable to the CC. , 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, 411i) The PC shall normally neet once a week. iv) The PC shall prepare and convene the Central Committee, The CC shall elect full time workers and delegate to them the authority necessary ta carry out their functions under PC and CC control. 4) Full timers shall. be fully accountable to their appointing bodies and are under an obligation to keep them fully informed of their work and to consult with then on matters of major political importance. ii) Recall of a full timer may ‘be carried aut by the appointing bady 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 af this Constitution, iii) The pay, terms of reference and dismissal of full~ timers shall be decided by the CC and subject to annual review. .— i | i a i | i | | : j t 4 i | i ! i i Fy
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 body to which they are responsible vacates Office, 12. Finance i) All members of the organisation have an obligation to contribute regularly towards the financial needs of the organisation. The CC shall fix an obligatary 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 bea allocated as the Organisations International duas, tignal ¢ 2 The National Conference is the supreme policy-making bady of the 4G and can overide any other bedy in the *G. Its decisions are binding on all members, branches, committees, 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. 1iidAt least four months notice of the convening of Conference shall be given by the Cantral Committee. The pre-Conference discussion pariod shall open automatically one month after the giving of such notice. iv) Conference will also ba 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, arderly and effective character. In particular: a) they shall ensure the publication of, written contributions to the discussion in such a manner that guarantees both tha rights of individual members ta freely contribute and the rights of the whole membership ta have full and adequate opportunity to study such positions
Constitution b) they shali 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 ta 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. vi) It shall be a normal responsibility af 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, 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 to ensure as precise a reflection as practical of the numerical weight of different tendendies, Priority in debate will be given to full delegates. viii) Voting on documents in the branches or 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 committea 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 committeas of the #G ends at the beginning of conference.
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 toa 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 to 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 4G policy.
Constitution ii) Members de not have the right to organise outside the #G or the UsFsfor minority views. This does not mean they should pretend to hold beliefs contrary to their real ones. Minority comrades have a right te etate they hold minority positions and toa give a brief explanation, but without making propaganda against the majority line. They have a duty +o state to the best of their ability what the majority line is. In any vote or practical action they must support the majority line. Members Ao not have the right to take internal organisational disputes autside cha #G or UeFs in any way. ag manber shall in any way be subject to sanctions inside the -isation for the rderly expression of opinion, or the exercise of sther r right laid down by the Constitution, iv) All bodies of tha organisation are under obligation to conduct their uch A wey 2 es to ensure the right of every member ta play a in the internal life of the organisation, and to ensure that nade in accordance with democratic norms. It shall be a rship that comrades should not use the experience of higher ucation, sexism or racism as a means of inhibiting the i. iwacinr “4Pp canrades in discussion. sign tren any elected position in the ions of any body of the vi? tLe CO stall ensure the regular pubd.ication of an internal ecusaion wulletin apean to the waole imbership, for the purposes of dvvelcoping and clarifying the political and theoretical views of the erganisation. It shall also previde a means of generalising the lessons thet have beeu learnt fron aotiwity in a particular area, industry, anicn, social rovernant éte 2) the the CC ar werdyesd regularly, at intervals laid down by 5) an IDE editor, appainted vy the PC is responsible for the production und distribution of the IDB. 2) Ths adivor has no right in the first instance to refuse for wublication any article submitted by the IDB deadline pravided it wets the wor. linii and format specifications agrasd by the CC or i td o pu delegutca body, tin cases of dispute the article should be referred oo the Control Carmsission, a) the ID3 editor has the right and duty to edit dacuments for the purposas at Securely: @) Any wamber submitting a dacument to the IDB which meets the agreec specifications has the right to insist it is circulated within two woeks, ~ 10 -
Constitution . £) Any comrade unable ta meet the format specifications laid down by the CC or Conference has the right to communicate with the full time staff to seek assistance in the publication of documents. g? Every member shall receive a copy. 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 other people without the express permission of the PC or other leading bady. 16, Richts of Tendencies and Factions Members of the organication shall have the right to constitute themselves in org anised tendencies or factions, on the basis of a clear political platforn. This platform must be circulated to all members of the organisation in advance of calling a meeting to establish the tendency or facticn.
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 differant positions within the organisation. [It shall normally ba formed fcr the duraticen of the pre-Conference discussion aniy. 4 faction is a grouping which over a period of time of discussion. -, and clerification fights for a platform and an alternative leadership based on that platforn. - 1) The rights af such minorities shall includes. a) the right to maat collectively tea elaborated ‘and define their political views, and the most effective way of fighting for them in the organisation b) the right to collectively present these views to the organisation c) the right to adequate opportunity in ‘pre-Conference.- on. ther > internal discussions and at Conference to explain and develop their . positions befcrn the whole membership in counterposi tion to other tendencies end factions. “A ss . ii) The CC ray take measure to additionally extead the rights and £ abSS priveleges of minorities in the interests of the unity and democracy of oe the whole o-ganisation. Any such measures shall-be based upon clear and . impartial criteria waich apply equaily to all ‘minorities. en iii) Nembership of a tendency shall be open ta all members of the 46 who” agree with the platform of that tendency. ; . A ‘ iv) Nembership of a faction shall be open to all those who” agree with” the platform of the faction and in addition agree to be bound by the | discipline of that faction in internal debate.
Constitution 17. hts e Oppresse i) The organisation recagnises that certain forms af oppressive social relationships and ideas are prevalent in cpaitalist saciety and act as a powerful block to the unity of the working class and the appressed in the struggle against the capitalist social order, It therefore views the regulation of social relationships through racism, sexism, heterosexism and all use of viclence 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 recagnisas 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 barne.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 organisaticn-of childcare to enable members with euch responsibilities to participate as fully as possible in the life of the organisation. iii) Women comrades, black comrades and lesbian and gay comrades have the right to caucus at local or naticnal 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 group 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 of this particular group within the organisation and ta report back, with proposals where appropriate, to the branch, leadership or other relevant bady.. ORE bs may 62 > tr Aus i) Any member or group of nenbers shall have the right to bring charzes against any ‘Henber° "The | basis for such charges shall be that a member is actfag d@¢Svae the conetitution; acting in contravention of the decisidns of “coifdrdice, the leadership or a bady to which they are specifically responsible; acting against the security | of the organisation | or a ae of the interests s of the working Class. wae BddS “~ re Lid- Path ‘idnbeta” who’ have. charges brought against them - the accused ~ shall receive one wéek's ‘written notice of the charges and the date af the bearing. . :
Li) All accused shall have the right to have another member with them at the, hearing and, if they wish, to have this member present their « =e maw. case. *"° a Bro yt Oaued sd os ’ nn : o ue sie OY =
Constitution own account of the circumstances and hear and answer all evidence . against them including by questioning witnesses. iv) All aécuéed Shall -have the right to call witnesses, present their \ v) Nembers bringing charges - the accuser(s) - shall have the right to. have another membér with them at the hearing and if they wish to-have \ a . that member present their case. : vi) the accuser(s) shall have the right to present their case, to call ' witnesses and to question the accused and their witneses. \ Pes . 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 ather cases with the support cf the Control Commission, to the Conference and the UtF#, subject to the statutes of the U#Fs viii) The sanctions which may be imposed on any member or body found guilty of disciplinary charges shall not go beyond reasonable political or organisational sanctions, the highest form of which shall be expulsion, xi) The Control Comission shall consist of a majority of women we | ‘shall have the right to hear evidence in private if required. 34 i) A Control Commission shall be elected by Conference. Wone of its i members shall be on the Central Committee. It shall at all times be completely independent of the elected leadership of the organisation. ii) It shall be charged with the work of safeguarding all aspects of party democracy and diecipline. It shall 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 body on its findings. tii) 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 shali have the right to attend as an observor at any meeting in the organisation in respect of Control Commission pusiness. The function of such observor 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 Conmission from the elected leadership. ~ 413 -
‘. Constitution v) The Control Commission shall have the right to ‘scrutinise any... documents produced in the organisation; and ta require any member or body toa produce before it any other material which may be deemed by it of relevance to its work mes vi) Once it has concluded an investigation, the Control Commission shall be empowered to present a report cf its inquiries, including any recommendations on action that it wishes ta be taken, to any bady that is conducting a hearing under. the Code of Discipline or to any leadership body. 7 a vii) The Control Commission's powers shall be limited to the above, and shall not include any executive powers. It 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 praceedings. 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 eanctions against a member or body shall be reported to the Contral Commission.
Dane Noe ee eA CRIES CD Diss