29.11.2001

The fourth stem

The CPGB urges all Socialist Alliance members to back our constitution. Out of the six stems on offer this constitution most effectively combines the principles of organised unity in action with the freedom to openly criticise in a political paper

A. Statement of aims

A1. The Socialist Alliance aims to build a political alternative to the Labour Party. We do this by fighting elections, supporting workers in struggle, taking a lead on all democratic questions and building support for the Socialist Alliance within the working class.

A2. Our goal is the creation of a new working class party dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism and achieving socialism - ie, the rule of the working class - and through that general freedom.

A3. Until a full programme is adopted the manifesto, People before profit, agreed by the March 10 2001 Birmingham policy conference, and as subsequently amended, will function as the programme of the alliance.

B. Membership

B1. A member of the Socialist Alliance is one who accepts the programme and rules, works in one of its organisations where possible and pays the relevant membership fees.

B2. Members must not oppose Socialist Alliance candidates or obstruct definite actions. The Socialist Alliance aims towards the fullest unity in democratically agreed actions. An aspiration primarily brought to life through common political struggle, patient education and raising consciousness.

B3. Members enjoy the following rights:

• the right to hold opinions and express them
• the right to put oneself forward for and to take part in the selection of Socialist Alliance candidates
• the right hold officers and representatives of the Socialist Alliance to account through democratic mechanisms
• the right to collectively elect and recall Socialist Alliance officers and committees
• the right to form distinct temporary or long-term political platforms
• the right read, write for and publicly distribute publications
• the right to political education and socialist theory in the Socialist Alliance.

B4. The Socialist Alliance seeks to reach out to all those oppressed and discriminated against by capitalism, such as women, black and other oppressed ethnic groups, lesbians and gay men and people with disabilities. To help ensure that oppressed groups can feel that the Socialist Alliance really belongs to them they will have the right to caucus at any level within the alliance.

B5. Anyone elected as a Socialist Alliance candidate will:

• live on no more than the average wage of a skilled worker
• publish details of all their expenses and how these expenses have been spent
• publish details of any activities for which payment has been made
• provide a monthly report of their activities to the NEC, the press and the public
• hold regular surgeries for their constituents
• remain accountable to the local alliance for their seat throughout their term in office

C. Organisation

C1. The basic organisational form of the Socialist Alliance is the geographical or workplace branch. There will also be Socialist Alliance regional organisations. In the first place the decision to establish a branch and its boundaries will be that of the members concerned. In the case of a dispute the final decision will be made by the executive committee. No branch shall have fewer than 10 members without the permission of the executive committee. Branches have full autonomy in their sphere of operations. That includes electing officers and selecting candidates.

C2. Regional committees are established on the basis of grouping no less than five branches. The role of these committees is to help coordinate the work of branches.

C3. The sovereign body of the Socialist Alliance is the annual conference. It can decide on all matters: eg, policy, disputes, programme, rules, dissolving the Socialist Alliance or changing its name.

C4. Conference is either open to all members on a one-member-one-vote system or shall be convened as a delegate conference. Delegate conferences must be based on a system of elections from branches and regional committees. The election of delegates from branches and regional committees must ensure that political minorities are properly represented.

C5. If 10% of the membership or 25% of the branches or one-third of the regional committees requests it a special conference shall be held. If the conference has not been held within six months those branches and regional committees who have requested a conference shall establish a conference arrangements committee in order to convene the conference.

C6. The executive committee has the responsibility of carrying out conference decisions, initiating national political actions and setting the level of financial contributions from members, branches and regions. Between conference the executive committee represents the membership as a whole.

C7. Election to the executive committee shall be by individual nomination and those with the highest votes being elected. Conference will decide upon the size of the executive and can select from its ranks an elections preparations committee. It can draw up a recommended list based on agreed criteria to ensure an effective leadership: ie, gender, ethnic background, political faction, experience and geography.

C8. The executive committee shall elect its own officers and establish working parties, commissions and sub-committees. All officers and committees are recallable.

C9. The executive committee has the right to call meetings of the Socialist Alliance Council. The council is made up of executive committee members and delegates from branches and regions. Council will decide upon matters submitted to it by the executive committee. As a norm the council should meet four times a year.

C10. The executive may coopt new members by a simple majority vote. These members have a voice but no vote.

C11. Members may establish short-term or long-term platforms on whatever political basis they see fit. Platforms shall be officially recognised by the executive committee if they have more than 20 fully paid up Socialist Alliance members. Members? platforms have the right to submit motions to conference and the executive committee and to send a delegate to the executive committee. That delegate shall have speaking rights but not voting rights.

C12. Members breaking the rules of the Socialist Alliance can be warned of their conduct by branches and regional committees. Branches and regional committees can also recommend to the executive committee that a member should be suspended for up to six months or expelled. The political consciousness of the member must be taken into account; so must the circumstances of any offence.

C13. Conference will elect an Appeals Committee with a membership of five, who must not be members of the executive. The committee shall elect a convenor from amongst its membership, who will have the right to attend the executive on a non-voting basis.

C14. The functions of the Appeals Committee shall be as follows:

i. Membership - Where a local alliance or national body wishes to reject an application for membership, or expel an existing member, the request must be made in writing to the appeals committee, who will have the final decision.

ii. Disputes - Any disputes about the balance of rights and duties between individual members or members? platforms, or complaints about the conduct of individuals or members? platforms, shall be referred to the Appeals Committee. The decision of the committee will be binding on all parties concerned.

iii. Elections - Where disputes arise locally around endorsement of candidates, which seats are to be contested, etc, the executive may ask the Appeals Committee to investigate the situation and make recommendations for a course of action. The final decision on these matters will remain with the executive.

C15. The expectation is that all disputes should be resolved locally where possible, in line with the SA?s principles of non-sectarian, positive cooperation. Disputes should only be referred to the Appeals Committee where local attempts to find a resolution have failed. All decisions of the Appeals Committee can be overturned at a conference by a simple majority vote.

C16. The Socialist Alliance must be a model of civilised democracy, in contrast to the control freakery of New Labour. We need efficient decision-making on the Alliance?s responses to political events; transparency and accountability in decision-making; maximum discussion before all important decisions; decision by consensus where possible; and autonomy for groups within the alliance.

C17. All important decisions should be taken through written resolutions of appropriate conferences or committees. All decision-making bodies of the alliance must keep minutes of their proceedings which include the text of all proposals adopted, defeated or remitted, and details of votes. These minutes must be circulated promptly to all Socialist Alliance members who request them, either free by email or, on payment of an extra subscription sufficient to cover costs, by ordinary mail.

D. Political paper

D1. The executive committee must ensure that the Socialist Alliance is equipped with a regular political paper.

D2. The executive committee shall elect an editorial board and should ensure that the editorial board reflects our political diversity. The editorial board elects and can change the editor and other responsible positions.