SWP constitution
(1) Introduction
The Socialist Workers Party is an organisation of revolutionary socialists dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism internationally and the construction of a world socialist system. We belong to and develop the revolutionary communist tradition of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Luxemburg and Trotsky. Central to this tradition is the conception of socialism from below. As Marx put it, the working class must emancipate itself, and in so doing emancipate the whole of society. Socialism cannot be achieved by acts of parliament or any kind of dictatorship or minority action but only through the struggles of working people throughout the world. Since capitalism is a global system, socialism can only succeed through a process of world revolution. We are internationalists who support struggles around the world against capitalism, imperialism and oppression. Accordingly we strive to build international forms of organisation and solidarity. The SWP participates in the International Socialist Tendency, which seeks to bring together revolutionary socialists worldwide. The SWP is an organisation of committed fighters for socialism who believe that the working class is the only force capable of building socialism in the world. We strive to construct a revolutionary party whose overwhelming majority are workers. We actively support all struggles against exploitation and oppression. Within those struggles we always seek to involve the widest numbers in join activity, and to advance socialist ideas. Democracy is at the heart of socialism and is central to the workings of the SWP. The SWP is a democratic centralist organisation that decides its policies through full discussion and debate among its members and then implements these policies in a united and disciplined way. 94 The conditions of the class struggle change all the time, and effective socialist intervention requires members involvement in constant democratic review of party activity and organisation. In order to be effective in both carrying out the partys democratic decisions and testing them in practice, we need to act in a unified way. Once decisions have been taken, all members are expected to carry out party policies. Decisions by the Conference of the SWP are binding on all party members and bodies. Subject to the sovereignty of Conference, decisions taken by the Central Committee (CC), National Committee (NC) and Party Council are binding on caucuses, districts and branches, and individual party members.
(2) Membership
A member is someone who agrees with the politics of the SWP (as outlined in Where We Stand, which is printed in each issue of Socialist Worker), accepts its constitution, and works within and under the direction of the appropriate party bodies. All members are expected to pay suitable subscriptions, depending
upon their means, to take and sell Socialist Worker, and where possible to be members of an appropriate trade union and stand for the position of shop steward or its equivalent. Any member over three months in arrears may be excluded from membership.
(3) Branches and districts
The basic unit of party organisation is the branch. Branches may be organised on geographical or industrial bases. Branch members meet regularly to determine the branchs work, within the framework of national policy. Branch members may decide in a meeting to establish some kind of responsible branch structure to direct the branchs work. Such structures can, when so empowered, make binding decisions, subject to review and possible alteration by a full members meeting or 95 higher body. General guidance about these matters may be given from time to time by Conference, the Central Committee or the National Committee. Where appropriate, branches may be grouped together in a district. As with a branch, district members meeting together may elect a district committee to coordinate party activity across a district. Establishing a new branch or district, or altering boundaries between them, is subject to the agreement of the Central Committee.
(4) Conference
National Conference is the supreme policy making body and is held annually. Branches and/or districts elect delegates to Conference on a basis proportional to their membership, as determined by the Central Committee. Only members of the organisation may participate in the election of delegates. Only delegates may vote at Conference and participate in electing leading committees. Three months before each Conference the Central Committee opens a special pre-conference discussion in the organisation. Members are invited to contribute written discussion documents for internal circulation during this period. During the pre-conference period, district aggregates are held where CC members present members with a review of the previous year and an outline of party perspectives. These open meetings give all members the chance to discuss party work, raise questions and points of disagreement and collectively assess the partys development. The Central Committee nominates a Conference Arrangements Committee of up to seven members, to be ratified or amended by a majority of delegates at the start of conference. The CAC makes regulations and standing orders for the preparation and conduct of conference, subject to delegates agreement. The CAC is responsible for the conduct of elections at the conference. Members of the Central Committee, Conference Arrangements 96 Committee, National Committee, Party Disputes Committee and
full-time workers may attend Conference with speaking rights. The Central Committee may invite observers to attend conference, and these may be invited to speak. A Special Conference may be called by the Central Committee or at the request of 20 percent of the branches. The decisions of a Special Conference are as binding as those of Annual Conference.
(5) Central Committee
The CC consists of members elected by the Conference according to the following procedure: The outgoing Central Committee selects and circulates a provisional slate for the new CC at the beginning of the period for pre-Conference discussion. This is then discussed at the district aggregates where comrades can propose alternative slates. At the Conference the outgoing CC proposes a final slate (which may have changed as a result of the pre-Conference discussion). This slate, along with any other that is supported by a minimum of five delegates, is discussed and voted on by Conference. Between Conferences the CC is entrusted with the political leadership of the organisation and is responsible for the national direction of all political and organisational work, subject to the decisionmaking powers of Conference. The CC appoints all full-time organisers. District organisers represent and are responsible to the CC. They work together with the party members in their district to ensure the effective implementation of party policies.
(6) National Committee
The National Committee consists of 50 members elected at Annual Conference. The National Committee assists the Central Committee in providing political leadership for the party and reviews the partys 97 political and organisational work between Conferences. Its decisions are binding on the Central Committee. In the event of a major disagreement between the Central Committee and the National Committee, the NC has the right to call a Special Conference. The NC normally meets every two months between Annual Conferences.
(7) Party discipline and the Disputes Committee
Occasionally disputes between members and breaches of normal party discipline may occur. The party has a Disputes Committee to investigate and handle these matters in a principled fashion. The Disputes Committees functions are to maintain and strengthen party unity and principle and to investigate complaints relating to disciplinary matters by its members or units. The Disputes Committee consists of not more than 12 members. Conference elects up to ten of these, and the incoming CC nominates two.
The Disputes Committee is brought in where local structures prove unable to resolve disputes. Where appropriate, the Disputes Committee may arbitrate between members or party units. Cases are normally referred to the Disputes Committee by the Central Committee. If a member has a complaint against a member of the CC or a party full-time worker, this is referred directly to the DC. The DC has the right to refuse to pursue complaints if it deems any of the following to be the case: 1. The complaint is frivolous; 2. Based on the evidence presented, there is no case to answer; 3. The comrade concerned is trying to use the DC to win battles already lost in the democratic processes of the party. In cases of serious breaches, disciplinary measures such as censure, suspension or expulsion may be taken by the Central Commit98 tee, or by a district or branch committee, subject to confirmation by the Central Committee. Anyone who is disciplined and is unhappy about their treatment may appeal to the Disputes Committee, who will review the decision and can change or reverse it if they agree. The Disputes Committee may also take such disciplinary measures as it deems necessary on its own initiative. Unless the Disputes Committee rules that exceptional circumstances prevail, comrades receive in advance a written statement of the case against them and are present when evidence is given to the DC. They receive a written statement of the DCs decision The Disputes Committee may co-opt members to serve for particular investigations. The Disputes Committee reports to Conference, where its activities are subject to endorsement or otherwise.
(8) Party Council
The Party Council is constituted of representatives of branches decided on a numerical basis determined by the CC. It normally meets once a year. Additional meetings may be called in case of need by the CC. Every branch shall have at least one delegate. The Party Council reviews the political and organisational work of the SWP (or such aspects of it as it deems necessary) between Conferences, pools the experiences of the members in implementing the line of the organisation and advises the CC. It has power to take decisions on matters of general policy binding on the CC. When appropriate, the CC may call national meetings of party members to discuss any aspect of party work and organisation.
(9) National Caucus
Members in a particular industry, union or area of political work are constituted, where desirable, into a national caucus. The establishment of a caucus requires the agreement of the CC. Caucus aggregates are held from time to time, either on a delegate basis 99 or otherwise. Elected caucus executives direct the partys work in the appropriate area within the framework of national policy.
(10) Factions
If a group of party members disagrees with a specific party policy, or a decision taken by a leading committee of the party, they may form a faction by producing a joint statement signed by at least 30 members of the party. A faction will be given reasonable facilities to argue its point of view and distribute its documents. These must be circulated through the National Office, to ensure that all members have the chance to consider them. Debate continues until the party at a Special or Annual Conference reaches a decision on the disputed question. Permanent or secret factions are not allowed.
Constitutional changes
This Constitution (along with Where We Stand) is agreed by conference 2003, and amended by the special Democracy Conference of 2009. (a) Either document may be amended by a majority of delegates at any future Conference.
