RULES

As amended by the 14th National Congress of the New Communist Party of Britain in December 2003.

1.             NAME

i.              The name of the Party is the New Communist Party of Britain and its organ is the New Worker. The emblem of the Party is “NCP” and the hammer and sickle.

2.             AIMS

i.              The aim of the New Communist Party of Britain is the overthrow of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie and its replacement by the dictatorship of the proletariat so that a socialist society is formed, which is the first phase in the building of a communist society.

3.             PRINCIPLES

i.              The New Communist Party is the monolithic Party of the proletariat and not a Party of a bloc of elements of different classes. The Party is the organised vanguard of the working class, the highest form of class organisation of the proletariat. The Party, as an instrument of the dictatorship of the proletariat, is the embodiment of the unity of will of the class, and is incompatible with the existence of factions. The Party is strengthened by purging itself of opportunist elements.

ii.             The organisational basis of the Party is democratic centralism, we speak with one voice. Every member must observe unified discipline. The individual is subordinate to the organisation, the minority is subordinate to the majority, the lower level is subordinate to the higher level and the entire Party is subordinate to the national Party Congress and when it is not sitting, to the Central Committee.

iii.            The political basis of the Party is revolutionary Marxism-Leninism, as developed by Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. It is our duty to combat and expose all forms of revisionism and reformism as petty bourgeois influences.

iv.            The philosophical basis of the Party is dialectical and historical materialism.

v.             The international basis of the Party is proletarian internationalism. It is our duty to fight our own imperialism at home and to support the struggle against imperialism and for socialism and national liberation abroad.

4.             PARTY STRUCTURE

i.              The Party’s basic units are either factory/workplace Party Cells/Branches or local Party Cells/Branches, which shall meet regularly, whose minimum membership shall be three. Members and provisional members are allocated to the most appropriate Party Cell/Branch by the relevant higher committee. Party members who are not members of basic Party units shall be organised by the relevant District Committee or the Central Committee.

ii.             The relevant higher committee may approve the formation of a local Party committee, comprising members elected by the appropriate Party Cells/Branches in a specified locality, to co-ordinate and direct the work of the Cells/Branches and fractions that have been established in that locality.

iii.            The work of the Cells/Branches, local Party committees and fractions is co-ordinated and directed by the District Committee elected at a District Congress and ratified by the Central Committee. The Central Committee, at any time, shall provide a set of Standing Orders for District Committees describing how the District Committee shall organise itself. The Central Committee may create new District Committees and appoint members and officers, who shall remain in office at the discretion of the Central Committee or until such time as elections are held, as laid down in Standing Orders. Such elections shall be held at least every three years.

iv.            The district secretary and other district officers shall be elected by the District Committee, subject to ratification by the Central Committee. The district secretary shall be the leading comrade in the district, having shown by his/her commitment to the class struggle that s/he is suitable to carry out this role. The district secretary speaks with the voice of the Central Committee in the district.

v.             The national Party Congress is the highest authority of the Party and elects the Central Committee, which controls and directs the policy and work of the Party between congresses. The work of Congress is governed by Standing Orders. A national Party Congress must be convened if half of the Party cells request it. The Central Committee must convene a national Party Congress at least every three years.

vi.            The Central Committee elects the general secretary, national Party officers and a Political Bureau which meets when necessary between Central Committee meetings. The Central Committee shall meet every two months. An emergency meeting of the Central Committee shall be called on its own initiative, by the Political Bureau (a sub-committee of the Central Committee), or by the General Secretary.

vii. The whole work of Party members, Cells/Branches and committees is based on the recognition that decisions of higher Party organisations are binding on lower; acceptance of strict Party discipline and immediate operation of Party decisions. Discussion on Party questions can be carried on until the proper Party organisation has reached a decision. A vote shall be taken, after full discussion, and decided by a simple majority of those in attendance. If there is a tie, the chair of the meeting shall cast a deciding vote. After a decision has been taken it must be carried out unconditionally even if some members or lower Party organisations are not in agreement with the decision.

viii. The Central Committee or Political Bureau may appoint members of their number to attend any Party organisation as deemed necessary.

ix. Factional contact or groupings are expressly forbidden.

x. The Central Committee or relevant District Committee may approve the formation of a Party fraction to facilitate the work of Party members in a specific organisation. The relevant higher committee shall appoint a convenor from amongst the members of each fraction.

5.             MEMBERSHIP

i.              The Party places great demands upon its members in commitment and self sacrifice.

ii.             A member of the Party is one who accepts our policies and who supports the Party both financially and by active participation in a Party unit. All members of the Party must follow strict Party discipline at all times without exception.

iii.            Prospective members must be approved for membership by either the basic Party unit, the appropriate District Committee or the Central Committee. Decisions of lower committees to approve or disapprove applications for membership must be ratified by all higher committees up to and including the Central Committee.

iv.            After acceptance, prospective members shall serve such period of provisional membership as the Central Committee deems appropriate, the minimum period being six months. During such period the provisional member shall be subject to full Party discipline but shall not have the right to vote or be elected to Party bodies. At the end of this period prospective members must be approved for full membership by either the basic Party unit, the appropriate District Committee or the Central Committee. Decisions of lower committees to approve or disapprove applications for full membership must be ratified by all higher committees up to and including the Central Committee.

v.             It is the duty of all members to study, sell and actively promote the New Worker, Party publications and any publications which the Central Committee has approved for public circulation.

vi.            It is the duty of every Party member actively to support all Party decisions both in the Party and amongst the working class.

vii.           It is the duty of all members to join and be an active member of an appropriate trade union.

6.             THE NEW WORKER

i.              The Party shall publish, or arrange to have published, a newspaper setting forth the aims and policies of the Party.

7.             PARTY FINANCE

i.              All Party members shall pay monthly dues which are directly proportionate to earnings and which shall have been set at an appropriate level by the Central Committee and subsequently endorsed by the national Party Congress. Dues are collected by the appropriate Party unit, which should be cognisant of the financial status of each member and act appropriately in ensuring that those members on reduced incomes are not overburdened financially.

ii.             Members of the Party more than three months in arrears with dues are considered to be lapsed after due warning has been given and an opportunity given to pay such arrears. It is the duty of the District Committee to ensure prompt payment of dues and to lapse members who are three months in arrears. Except in exceptional circumstances where members have applied for and obtained a remission of dues.

8.             SUPPORTERS’ GROUPS

i.              The District Committee may establish New Worker supporters’ groups under the leadership of the Party, to direct the activity and political development of those supporters who are unable to join the Party but wish to engage in the class struggle and ally themselves to the political position of the New Worker.

9  PARTY DISCIPLINE

i.              Party members who breach these Rules or carry out any action against the interests or policies of the Party shall be disciplined by censure, suspension from office, removal from office, suspension from membership or expulsion from the Party as is appropriate.

ii.             No member shall, without the permission of the Central Committee, display or circulate any internal Party documents to any person outside the Party or to members other than those authorised to receive such documents. No member shall leave any internal Party document unattended in circumstances which may lead to its unauthorised exposure or loss.

iii.            Disciplinary measures taken by a factory/workplace or local Cell/Branch must be ratified at the next District Committee meeting.

iv.            Disciplinary measures taken by a District Committee must be ratified by the next Central Committee meeting.

v.                   Party members subject to disciplinary action may firstly appeal in writing to the Central Committee, providing the appeal is received within 28 days of the decision, and shall be given a written decision from the Central Committee.

vi.                  .       The final appeal shall be in writing to the next national Party Congress, provided written intention of this is received within 28 days of the Central Committee's decision on the appeal. The final appeal must be submitted to the Central Committee three months prior to the next national Party Congress.

vii. The Central Committee shall have the power to initiate and decide on any action against a member or Party organisation as it considers appropriate.

10.PARTY EDUCATION

i.              All Party members have a duty to study Marxism-Leninism and attend Party education schools at national and district level. All Party organisations must regularly organise study events.

11. PARTY RULES

i.              In any dispute over the interpretation of these Rules, the decision of the Central Committee is final, subject to ratification by the next national Party Congress. Changes to Party Rules may only be made at a national Party Congress.

PROLETARIANS OF ALL LANDS UNITE!