14.12.1995

Socialist Labour Party Constitution and Rule Book 1996

Below we reprint Arthur Scargill’s detailed proposals for a Socialist Labour Party distributed at an unpublicised meeting on Sunday December 10

Clause I - Name

This organisation shall be known as the Socialist Labour Party (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Party’). Its purpose is to organise and give effect to Party policy and its constitutional objectives.

Clause II - Membership

1. Membership shall consist of:

a) affiliated members.
b) individual members who must be members of bona fide trade unions unless ineligible for trade union membership.

2. Affiliated membership shall consist of:

a) trade unions recognised by the Party’s Executive Committee as bona fide trade unions.
b) Regional Socialist Labour Parties.

3. Individuals and organisations other than bona fide trade union which have their own programme, principles and policies, distinctive and separate propaganda, or which are engaged in the promotion of policies in opposition to those of the Party shall be ineligible for affiliation to the Party.

4. A member of the Party who joins and/or supports a political organisation other than the Party shall automatically be ineligible to remain a Party member.

5. Individual members shall be British or Irish citizens or persons who have resided in Britain or Ireland for more than one year and who:

a) are not less than 16 years of age.
b) are subject to the conditions of membership.

6. British or Irish citizens temporarily residing abroad may become members or retain membership of the Party.

Clause III - Conditions of membership

1. Each affiliated trade union must:

a) accept the constitution and rules of the Party.
b) accept the programme, principles and policies of the Party.

2. Regional and local Parties must:

a) accept the constitution and rules of the Party
b) accept the programme, principles and policies of the Party.

3. Individual members must:

a) accept the constitution and rules of the Party
b) accept the programme, principles and policies of the Party.

Clause IV - Objects

1. It shall be the aim and objective to organise and maintain a political Party to represent the policies of the Party.

2. To cooperate with trade unions or other kindred organisations, in joint political or other action in harmony with the Party constitution and standing orders.

3. To establish a voting system based upon proportional representation which ensures that democratic, socialist principles are part of the electoral, representative process at all levels.

4. To give effect to the policy decisions adopted by Party congress.

5. To secure for the people of Britain a full return of all the wealth generated by the industries and services of our nation on the basis of common/social ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange of each industry and service and to implement the most effective system of administration, control and accountability of each industry and service by the people.

6. To establish the most equitable distribution of the wealth generated by industries and services, ensuring full employment, a free National Health Service and an education system available to all on demand with adequate provision for all, in particular the elderly and young in our society.

7. To establish that occupational pension funds are controlled by the employees who contribute and the beneficiaries who benefit from them in line with the principles established in 5 and 6 above.

8. To promote and establish a clean, healthy, safe environment in which the resources of the Earth are used to enhance the well-being of humans and of all forms of life, for today’s and future generations, with special attention to eliminating pollution on land, sea and air.

9. To establish that women are treated equally with men in all respects, particularly as far as pay and conditions at work are concerned and to prohibit by law any discrimination against women in any way.

10. To establish that black and Asian people and all ethnic groupings are treated equally with other people and to prohibit by law any discrimination against black, Asian or any ethnic groups.

11. To establish that no person shall suffer discrimination socially, economically or politically because of any disability, and to prohibit by law any discrimination against disabled people.

12. To establish that no person shall suffer discrimination socially, economically or politically because of their sexual orientation/preference.

13. To promote political, social and economic emancipation of the people as a whole.

14. To cooperate with all socialist organisations with a view to promoting the objects, aims and policies of the Party and to take common action with international socialist organisations in the campaigns to promote a higher standard of social and economic life for people throughout the world.

15. To cooperate with socialist organisations in all countries and other international organisations in the promotion of peace, the establishment and defence of human rights and the improvement of social and economic standards and conditions of work of people in countries throughout the world.

Clause V - Affiliation and membership fees

1. Affiliated trade unions shall pay an annual affiliation fee per member of £3.

2. Membership fees shall be:

a) Contribution rate - full: 50p per week; unwaged: 25p per week.
b) After receipt at national level contributions shall be divided:

Contribution rate, full (50p per week): national level - 33p; regional level - 17p; Contribution rate, unwaged (25p per week): national level - 17p; regional level - 8p.

3. Regional and local Parties shall be entitled to raise monies in addition to membership contributions.

Clause VI - Party congress

1. Government of the Party shall be by Party congress as provided for in these rules and be determined by the membership in full democratic discussion and debate at all levels within the Party.

2. Party congress shall be held bi-annually, between May 1-31, although a special congress can be convened at any time by the Executive Committee or upon request by 25% of the membership based on the voting entitlement at Party congress.

3. In the periods between Party congress, the Executive Committee shall administer the business and affairs of the Party and perform all duties laid down for it by resolutions of Party congress, and it shall not at any time act contrary to, or in defiance of, any resolution of Party congress.

4. Resolutions to Party congress shall be submitted by the Executive Committee, affiliated trade unions, Regional Parties, Women’s Section, Black and Asian Section and the Socialist Labour Youth.

5. The Executive Committee may submit up to three resolutions and any amendments to the constitution it deems necessary.

6. An affiliated trade union or Regional Party with membership of up to but not exceeding 1,000 may submit one resolution to Party congress.

7. Where membership is between 1,000 and 2,000, an affiliated trade union or regional Party may submit two resolutions.

8. Where membership exceeds 2,000, an affiliated trade union or Regional Party may submit three resolutions.

9. The Socialist Labour Party Youth organisation may submit one resolution.

10. The Women’s Section and the Black and Asian Section may each submit one resolution but may not submit amendments to the constitution.

11. An affiliated trade union or Regional Party may only submit one amendment to the constitution. Any such amendment shall be regarded as one of the resolutions referred to in 6, 7, or 8 above.

12. The Executive Committee, affiliated trade unions and Regional Parties may each submit one amendment to a resolution - including a resolution which is an amendment to the constitution - appearing on the Party congress agenda.

13. Any proposition previously voted upon at a Party congress shall not appear on the agenda of the next Party congress unless the Executive Committee agrees that circumstances justify its inclusion or Party congress decides by a two-thirds majority to allow the proposition to appear on the agenda.

14. Resolutions for the Party congress agenda shall be in the hands of the Party secretary not later than 14 weeks prior to the date of Party congress, in order that they may be circulated 12 weeks prior to Party congress. Amendments to resolutions shall be in the hands of the Party secretary at least nine weeks prior to Party congress, and the final agenda shall be circulated to affiliated trade union and Regional Parties not less than six weeks prior to Party congress.

15. Voting at Party congress on resolutions shall be by show of hands, or by card vote if an amendment to rule is under consideration or in the case of a resolution upon demand by at least 20 delegates.

Clause VII - Executive Committee

1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Party which shall administer the business affairs of the Party in periods between Party congress but which shall be subject to the control and direction of Party congress.

2. The Executive Committee shall comprise:

a) the President, Vice-President and General Secretary/Treasurer
b) six members nominated and elected by affiliated trade unions
c) six members nominated and elected by Regional Parties
d) two women’s representatives, nominated and elected by the Women’s Section
e) two black/Asian representatives, nominated and elected by the Black and Asian Section
f) one youth representative, elected by a ‘Socialist Labour Youth’ conference
g) the Executive Committee shall be elected by Party congress on the basis of the membership as a whole or by section by card vote.

3. The Executive Committee shall at all times uphold the constitution, rules and standing orders of the Party and be empowered to take any action including disaffiliation, suspension, etc against any affiliated trade union, regional Party or individual member who violates the rules and constitution of the Party.

Clause VIII - Officials

There shall be three national officials: President, Vice-President and General Secretary/Treasurer, who shall be responsible for carrying out the day-to-day business of the Party as directed by the Executive Committee. The three national officials shall be elected by Party congress on the basis of membership by card vote.

1. President:

There shall be a President who shall preside at congress and at all meetings of the Executive committee and see that the business of the Party is conducted in a proper manner according to rule.

2. Vice-President:

There shall be a Vice-President who shall deputise for the President in her/his absence and preside at meetings of the Executive committee and carry out other duties assigned to her/him.

3. General Secretary/Treasurer:

There shall be a General Secretary/Treasurer who shall act as Secretary to the Executive Committee, attend all meetings, prepare minutes of the same and submit an Annual Report to the Executive Committee and a political report to Party congress. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall also be responsible for preparing an annual financial report and submitting audited accounts to Party congress.

Clause IX - Auditors

There shall be elected at each Party congress two delegates to act as auditors of the Party’s accounts. They will hold office until conclusion of the following Party congress.

Clause X Constitution and Rules

The constitution and rules or any part thereof may only be amended, rescinded, altered or additions made thereto by a resolution carried on a two-thirds majority card vote at Party congress. Notice of an amendment/addition to the constitution or rules of the Party must be sent in writing to the General Secretary as provided for in the rules.

Clause xi Regional Parties

1. The Party shall have regional Parties comprising of members of affiliated trade unions and individual members of the Party.

2. The regional Party conference shall be held bi-annually, although a special conference can be convened at any time by the Regional Executive Committee or upon request by 25% of the membership based on the voting entitlement at regional Party conference.

3. The regional Party shall have a Regional Executive Committee which shall administer the business and affairs of the Party on a regional basis but which shall be subject to the control and direction of the Executive Committee at national level.

4. The Regional Executive Committee shall comprise:

a) the President, Vice-President and Regional Secretary/Treasurer
b) six members nominated and elected by affiliated trade unions
c) six members nominated and elected by local Parties
d) two women’s representatives, nominated and elected by the Women’s Section
e) two black/Asian representatives, nominated and elected by the Black and Asian Section
f) one youth representative elected by a ‘Socialist Youth Conference’.

5. Election to the Regional Executive Committee shall take place through the Annual General Meeting of the local Party. The Regional Executive Committee shall be elected by the regional Party conference on the basis of membership by card vote.

6. The Regional Executive Committee shall at all times uphold the constitution, rules and standing orders of the Party.

7. There shall be three regional Party officials elected by regional Party conference on the basis of membership by card vote:

a) President:

There shall be a President who shall preside at regional Party conference and at all meetings of the Regional Executive Committee and see that the business of the regional Party is conducted in a proper manner and according to rule

b) Vice-President:

There shall be a Vice-President who shall deputise for the President in her/his absence and preside at meetings of the Regional Executive Committee and carry out other duties assigned to her/him

c) Regional Secretary/Treasurer:

There shall be a Regional Secretary/Treasurer who shall act as Secretary to the Regional Executive Committee, attend all meetings, prepare minutes of the same and submit an Annual Report to the Regional Executive Committee. The Regional Secretary/Treasurer shall also be responsible for preparing an annual financial report to the Regional Executive Committee.

8. The regional Party shall be responsible for selecting suitable candidates to contest any local government, Parliamentary or European election.

9. Any member of the Party elected to any office in local, Parliamentary or European government will at all times adhere to the constitution and policies of the Party.

10. The Regional Party Executive Committee shall meet on a monthly basis and make annual reports to the Party at national level.

Clause XII - Local Parties

1. The Party shall have local Parties and all members within an area determined by the regional Party and the Executive Committee shall be members of such local Parties. The local Party shall have a branch committee which shall administer the business and affairs of the Party at local level, but which shall be subject to the control of the Executive Committee at national level.

2. The branch shall have a committee which shall administer the business and affairs of the Party on a local basis, but which shall be subject to the control and direction of the Executive Committee at national level. The branch committee with the exception of d) and g) below shall be elected by the branch Annual General Meeting on the basis of membership by card vote.

3. The branch committee shall comprise:

a) the President:

the President shall preside at the Annual General Meeting of the local Party and at all meetings of the branch committee and see that the business of the Party is conducted in a proper manner and according to rule

b) the Vice-President:

the Vice-President shall deputise for the President in her/his absence and preside at meetings of the branch committee and carry out other duties assigned to her/him.

c) The Branch Secretary/Treasurer:

the branch Secretary/Treasurer shall act as Secretary to the branch committee, attend all meetings, prepare minutes of the same and submit an Annual Report to the Regional Committee. The branch Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing an annual financial report for the branch which will also be submitted to the regional Party.

d) three members nominated and elected by affiliated trade unions
e) three members nominated and elected by individual members of the branch
f) one women’s representative, nominated and elected by women members of the branch
g) one youth representative elected by a ‘Socialist Labour Youth’ conference

4. Elections other than for d) above to the branch committee shall take place at the local Party Annual General Meeting.

5. Parties shall be entitled to nominate to the regional Parties candidates for selection to contest any local government, Parliamentary or European election.

6. Local Parties shall meet on a monthly basis, and be responsible for submitting an annual report to the regional Party.

7. A proportion of members’ subscriptions may be allocated to the branch as determined by the regional Party.

Clause XIII - Socialist Labour Party Youth

The Party shall establish a Socialist Youth organisation which shall have branches in areas determined by the Executive Committee and the regional Parties until such time as the Socialist Labour Youth organisation is able to convene its own national delegate conference; thereafter the youth organisation will itself determine where its branches shall be established.

Clause xiv Standing Orders

All meetings of the Socialist Labour Party shall be governed by standing orders which are appended to this Constitution/Rule Book and these standing orders shall apply at all levels within the Party, including congress, the Executive Committee, regional Party, local Party and Socialist Youth organisation.

December 10 1995

Standing Orders

1. Any meetings including Party congress, Executive Committee, regional Party, local branch or Socialist Youth shall meet at a time determined.

2. All voting shall in the first instance be by a show of hands.

3. In the event of a vote by a show of hands being challenged by not less than 25 delegates at Party congress or by 10% at any other meeting there shall be taken a card vote based upon membership of the Party. The membership of the Party for the purposes of a card vote shall be taken as being the number for which contributions have been paid to the Party for the 12 months ending on the preceding December 31.

4. Any ruling by the Chair shall only be challenged provided 10% of those present and voting support such a challenge and provided such a challenge is carried by two-thirds majority.

5. An emergency resolution can only be submitted to a meeting by consent of two-thirds of those present and voting.

6. Movers of resolutions shall be limited to 10 minutes, seconders shall be limited to seven minutes and subsequent speakers five minutes. The mover of a resolution and the mover of an amendment shall be allowed the right of reply which shall be limited to five minutes. The mover of a resolution and/or amendment closes debate.

7. No person shall speak more than once upon any motion or amendment but any person may rise to ‘a point of order’, or ask a question, provided she or he does so as soon as possible and adheres strictly thereto.

8. These standing orders may be suspended provided a resolution to this effect is carried by two-thirds of those present and voting.