Draft 5 AFRICAN PEOPLE S SOCIALIST PARTY-USA (APSP-USA) CONSTITUTION

Transcription

1 Draft 5 AFRICAN PEOPLE S SOCIALIST PARTY-USA (APSP-USA) CONSTITUTION

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO. 1. Preamble 2 2. Article 1.0 Name and Legal Status 6 3. Article 2.0 APSP Relatinship With the ASI 7 4. Article 3.0 Aims and Objectives 7 5. Article 4.0 Membership 8 6. Article 5.0 Principle f Party Organizatin Article 6.0 APSP-USA Structure Article 7.0 Qurum Article 8.0 Cnstitutinal Amendments Article 9.0 Pwers and Functins f Natinal Officers 20 1

3 PREAMBLE WHEREAS the wrld plitical ecnmy has its rigins in the attack n Africa, which includes the capture f Africa and the trade in African peple, initiating the fundatin f the mdern wrld ecnmy and the genesis f capitalism; WHEREAS the initial attack n Africa prvided the prcess wherein Eurpean imperialist r racist cnsciusness, the Eurpean natin, burgeis demcracy, imperialist wealth, the industrial revlutin and capitalism were frged, ttally wiping ut the indigenus plitical ecnmies f Africa and transfrming Africa int a cntinent whse purpse was t prvide fr the creatin and re-creatin f real life fr Eurpe and Nrth America; WHEREAS this prcess f slavery and varius ther frms f clnialism that gave rise t the parasitic capitalist system and the Eurpean natin als stemmed frm the attack n Africa which undermined the cnslidatin f African natinal cnsciusness and the African natin itself; WHEREAS the existing ecnmic structures f Africa were brn f the slave trade and mdified t accmmdate clnialism and neclnialism, serving as a means f transferring Africa s resurces t Eurpe, Nrth America and increasingly t ther cuntries and manipulating the plitical situatin in Africa t serve hstile, freign ecnmic interests at the expense f ur peple; WHEREAS thrugh slavery and clnialism the human and material wealth f Africa and ther areas f the wrld was frcibly transferred t Eurpe, cntributing t the verthrw f Eurpean feudalism, the installatin f capitalism and the rise f heretfre nnexistent scial frces such as the 2

4 capitalist class and the wrking class, bth f which we their existence t slavery and clnialism; WHEREAS the brutal cnditins f existence in Africa tday were brn f this parasitic relatinship upn which the entire imperialist edifice rests; WHEREAS in rder t facilitate this Eurpean rgy f plunder f ur resurces, Africa was divided int untenable, distrted micrstates that nly functin as structures t transfer Africa s resurces t imperialist cuntries and crpratins; WHEREAS Africans frcibly dispersed frm Africa cntinue t live in varius states f ecnmic deprivatin and plitical subjugatin including dmestic r internal clnialism in places like the U.S. and Canada; WHEREAS the primary struggle f African peple within the U.S. is t verthrw the alien U.S. clnial dminatin that is respnsible fr virtually every hardship impsed n ur peple that is identifiable as a black prblem, including pr, inadequate and hstile educatin in clnial institutins; shrtages f healthcare in clnially cntrlled cmmunities that induce pr health; husing ften unfit fr human habitatin; and denial f a general ability t acquire sufficient and decent fd, clthing and shelter; WHEREAS the cnditins f existence f African peple within the U.S. is characterized by clnial military plice ccupatin, inhumane plice vilence against, and massive incarceratin f, African peple; WHEREAS, in the face f the great need fr ecnmic develpment and selfserving prductive wrk within ur ppressed cmmunities, Africans 3

5 clnized within the U.S. endure chrnic unemplyment and underemplyment; WHERAS ur dmestically clnized cmmunity als suffers frm the impsitin f an illegal drug ecnmy and massive infusins f legal and illegal drugs by U.S. clnial agencies, leading t African cmmunity demralizatin and legal justificatin fr designer laws and cllective punishment f African peple, especially f the wrking class cmmunities; WHEREAS since the era f Marcus Garvey in the early 20 th Century mst African natinal liberatin mvements have fught fr pwer within the clnially-created brders, thereby guaranteeing even with a successful utcme t ur struggle that we cntinue t be dependent n a relatinship with the imperialists fr ur wn resurces, since the impsed clnial brders prevent the emergence f a truly significant All-African natinal ecnmy; WHEREAS Africa s clnial enslavement cntributed t the rise f capitalism, which intrduced a prly-frmed, primitive scial frce in the frm f the African petty burgeisie with interests separate frm that f the masses f African tilers and that achieves its identity primarily thrugh its relatinship t imperialism; WHEREAS the African primitive petty burgeisie, as a scial frce, is capable f realizing its class aims and aspiratins within the cntext f the existing capitalist/imperialist system with its attendant derivatives such as the divisin f Africa int pst-clnial, ill-frmed neclnial states that help t limit the cnslidatin f African natinal cnsciusness and the African natin itself; 4

6 WHEREAS the neclnial state serves as the incubatr fr the reprductin f the primitive petty burgeisie as a scial frce; WHEREAS the African Liberatin Mvement, bth in Africa and abrad has run int its limitatins when fught within the imperialist-impsed brders; WHEREAS thrughut the African wrld the African wrking class is the mst dynamic scial frce in sciety and creatr f all material value upn which all grwth and develpment rely, and is the nly scial frce that cannt realize its aims withut the cmplete destructin f the imperialist ecnmic structures, including the false brders that separate Africans frm each ther and ur resurces in Africa and abrad; WHEREAS the African wrking class, frcibly dispersed thrughut the wrld, is strategically lcated and delegated by histry with the task f liberating and uniting Africa and African peple, a necessary ccurrence fr genuine liberatin; WHEREAS the African wrking class, because f its histrical significance, has the respnsibility f liberating the African natin and becming the new ruling class; WHEREAS such respnsibility requires the internatinal African wrking class t rganize a capacity fr cllective actin by African wrkers f different cuntries, including Africans in imperialist-created, artificial, trans-clnial cuntries f Africa and thse in cuntries t which Africans have been frcibly dispersed; 5

7 WHEREAS we, the advanced detachment f the African wrking class and its general staff, have rganized this internatinal rganizatin t pursue the gal f the liberatin and unificatin f Africa and African peple under the leadership f the African wrking class as a critical cmpnent f the struggle t verthrw imperialism and all its representatins and manifestatins, including all frms f clnialism, and the establishment f the internatinal dictatrship f the wrking class; WE RESOLVE t build and cnslidate the African Peple s Scialist Party- USA as an integral part f internatinal struggle t verthrw capitalist imperialism and its neclnial minins in rder t achieve the unificatin and liberatin f Africa and African peple under the leadership f the African wrking class and build a sciety which will, as declared by Kwame Nkrumah, advance the triumph f the internatinal scialist revlutin, and nward prgress twards wrld cmmunism, under which, every sciety is rdered n the principle f frm each accrding t ability, t each accrding t needs. ARTICLE 1.0 NAME AND LEGAL STATUS 1.1 The name f the Party shall be the African Peple s Scialist Party-USA (Hereafter and herein referred t as the APSP-USA, the Party r the Organizatin). The APSP-USA is a cmpnent f the African Scialist Internatinal (ASI). 1.2 The APSP-USA shall exist in its wn name separate frm its members and cnstituent rganizatins. It shall cntinue t exist even when its membership changes and there are new members, member rganizatins r fficers. 6

8 1.3 Furthermre the Party shall be able t wn its wn prperty and ther pssessins, as well as be able t sue and be sued in its wn name. 1.4 The Party is als the sle and exclusive wner f all real and intellectual prperty in its pssessin and has sle and exclusive rights in the cntrl and dispersal f its real and intellectual prperty as determined by the Natinal Central Cmmittee. 1.5 All members and fficers f the Party understand that all wrk dne by them n behalf f the Party remains the pssessin f the Party. ARTICLE 2.0 THE APSP RELATIONSHIP TO THE AFRICAN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL (ASI) 2.1 The APSP-USA subscribes and adheres t the prgram and plitical philsphy f the ASI, including the ASI Main Reslutin. The ASI is an internatinal, revlutinary party with cmpnent natinal rganizatins in different cuntries perating under the name African Peple s Scialist Party. (Example: APSP-USA, APSP-United Kingdm, APSP-Suth Africa, etc.) ARTICLE 3.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3.1 The aims and bjectives f the APSP-USA are t lead the struggle f the African wrking class and ppressed masses against U.S. capitalistclnialist dminatin and all the manifestatins f ppressin and explitatin that result frm this relatinship. The Party recgnizes that the particular character f the ppressin f African peple within U.S. brders is dmestic r internal clnialism. Leading the struggle t end the system f dmestic clnialism and smash the U.S. capitalist-clnialist state is the immediate task f the African Peple s Scialist Party-USA and the African wrking class in the U.S. 7

9 3.2 The Party aims t advance the genuine liberatin and unificatin f Africa and African peple thrugh its wrk as the U.S. Frnt f the wrldwide African Revlutin, and frm this plitical vantage pint fight fr the creatin f a single All-African Scialist State which will advance the develpment f a classless, cmmunist sciety rganized arund the principle f, frm each accrding t her r his ability and t each accrding t her r his needs. 3.3 The Party wrks fr the emancipatin f the labring masses f the wrld in every cuntry in the cntest against natinal ppressin and capitalist explitatin and t advance the slidarity f all peples in the relentless battle against imperialism and fr the victry f wrld scialism. 3.4 The Party aims t establish a frmidable wrking alliance with prgressive parties r frums that subscribe t the gals f the liberatin and unificatin f Africa and African peple under the leadership f the African wrking class and the tiling masses in general. ARTICLE 4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Membership f the APSP-USA shall be drawn frm individuals that meet the fllwing basic requirements: Every member must vluntarily unite with Party rules and plicies Every member must be African and 18 years f age r lder. In special circumstances the age requirement may be waived subject t the apprval f the Party Natinal Central Cmmittee (NCC) Every member must unite with the aims f the Party as defined in the prgram f the Party and its Cnstitutin Every member des active wrk in an rganizatin under the leadership and discipline f the Party Every member actively distributes the press f the APSP-USA Every member adheres t all plicies established by the Party 8

10 Cngress and decisins f the Natinal Central Cmmittee (NCC) Every prspective member f the Party must have studied the Party Cnstitutin and prgram Every applicant fr membership must be spnsred by a Party member in gd standing The Party is at liberty t accept r reject applicatins fr membership The prcedure fr admitting a member shall be cmpleted when the prspective member is intrduced t a special meeting f Party members whse task shall be t evaluate the prspective member s applicatin fr apprval r rejectin Upn apprval f an applicatin fr membership, the new member will serve a prbatin perid f six mnths and will becme a member in gd standing if all requirements have been met at the end f that perid Emplyed members shall pay a ttal f ne hur s wage per mnth fr dues. Mnthly dues fr unemplyed wrkers, incarcerated members, and students will be established by the NCC and shall be adjusted as needed Members f the Party may be disciplined fr cnduct r actins detrimental t the Party. Discipline may include public r written selfcriticism, expulsin, public censure, and suspensin frm Party wrk r remval frm psitins f authrity Reasns fr disciplinary actin shall include but are nt limited t vilatins f the rules f Party discipline, vilatin f the Party Cnstitutin, theft f Party r mvement resurces, falsificatin f infrmatin written r verbal n applicatin r ther Party dcuments, exhibiting disunity with the prgram and plicies f the Party r any actins that serve t discredit the Party r its prgrams in the eyes f the African masses r ur allies A frmal charge must be made against a member and a subsequent inquiry t determine the validity f the charges befre any discipline is administered. 9

11 In the event that a member is expelled frm the Party, the member may submit an appeal in writing t the next highest cmmittee fr recnsideratin. An appeal may be submitted all the way up t the Party Cngress. The Cngress decisin will end the appeal prcess The Party Organizatin Manual shuld be used fr guidance when necessary fr clarificatin cncerning Party discipline and ther issues nt specified in the Cnstitutin. ARTICLE 5.0 PRINCIPLE OF PARTY ORGANIZATION 5.1 The rganizatinal principle thrugh which the APSP-USA is rganized and under which it perates is demcratic centralism. Demcracy in the cmpnent APSP-USA rganizatins is practiced under a centralized leadership in accrdance with demcratic eths. Demcratic Centralism is a system f Party rganizatin, which cmbines the maximum invlvement f the membership in determining plicy and in the demcratic electin f leading APSP-USA cmmittee leaders, tgether with the best frms f centralized leadership in the activities f the APSP-USA After a thrugh discussin in any Party structure surrunding an activity r plicy and a decisin is made by the Party structure, the decisin must be carried ut by all unreservedly, even if a minrity f the particular rganizatin is in disagreement All leading cmmittees f the Party, frm the lwest t the highest bdy, that are nt appinted by a legitimate higher Party rganizatin, are elected by the membership r delegates f the given Party rganizatin Every elected r appinted APSP-USA cmmittee leader must reprt regularly n its activity t its respective Party rganizatin and the apprpriate higher APSP-USA cmmittees The lwer Party cmmittees and all Party members have the duty f 10

12 carrying ut the decisins f the higher Party cmmittees, the NCC and the Natinal Cngress. Decisins f the Natinal Cngress and the NCC and the higher APSP-USA cmmittees are binding upn the lwer APSP-USA rganizatins and the entire membership An appeal f a decisin by a Party Cmmittee r cmpnent rganizatin shall meet the fllwing prtcl: a. A written request fr recnsideratin must be sent t the next highest level f the Party rganizatin r cmmittee and cpied t the appellant s rganizatin if the member wrks inside a cnstitutinally cnstituted Party Organizatin. b. A majrity f 75 percent f the leadership bdy f the rganizatin r cmmittee cnsidering the appeal must accept the recnsideratin issue befre it can be implemented. c. Issues f plicy, prcedure and discipline f members can be recnsidered, whereas cnstitutinal language shall nt be recnsidered except during the designated pre-cngress discussin perid. Apprval f cnstitutinal language can nly be executed at the Natinal Party Cngress. d. All appeals f decisins made t the next leading cmmittee shall be heard by the respective bdy within 90 days r at the next regularly scheduled meeting f the cmmittee, whichever ccurs first. e. Appeals may be made t successive leading cmmittees up t and including the APSP-USA Cngress. Decisins f the APSP-USA Cngress are final. f. While the appeal is pending, the decisin that is being appealed must be carried ut by all members f the APSP-USA. g. N member f the APSP-USA has the right t vilate the prcess f appealing APSP-USA decisins. h. N member has the right t secretly meet with thers t circumvent the prcesses set frth by the APSP-USA. This is factinalism, which is nt 11

13 permissible within the Party. ARTICLE 6.0 STRUCTURE OF THE APSP-USA 6.1 NATIONAL CONGRESS The Natinal Party Cngress shall be held every three years, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025 and every 3 years after The Natinal Party Cngress shall be the highest decisin making bdy f the APSP-USA The Natinal Party Cngress shall elect members f the Natinal Central Cmmittee (NCC) The Natinal Party Cngress shall receive and engage reprts frm natinal ffice bearers The Natinal Party Cngress shall be the final bdy f appeal n any decisins f plicy, cnstitutinal amendments, r discipline f members The Natinal Party Cngress shall be empwered t review any reslutin, prgram f actin and any plicy f the rganizatin The Natinal Party Cngress shall review and amend the Cnstitutin when and if necessary Prir t each Natinal Party Cngress a fur mnth perid shall be prvided fr discussin in all Party rganizatins and leading Party cmmittees n the Plitical Reprt and main reslutins, the Party Prgram and Cnstitutin, t adpt reslutins n all questins f Party plicy fr cnsideratin by the Cngress. All plicies and decisins, hwever, remain in full frce during the pre-cngress discussins. 6.2 NATIONAL CENTRAL COMMITTEE The Natinal Central Cmmittee (NCC) is the leading bdy f the 12

14 African Peple s Scialist Party-USA between Natinal Party Cngresses. The NCC shall be empwered t call r delay special cngresses under extrardinary circumstances such as natural disasters, plitical atmsphere nt cnducive t effecting a cngress, r changes in laws that make the cnvening f a cngress impssible. (See Appendix A fr jb descriptins and functins.) The Natinal Central Cmmittee shall meet quarterly per year, whenever practicable, with ntice f meetings and agendas sent t NCC members at least tw weeks prir t meetings. Additinal meetings shall be called with the apprval f ne-third f the sitting members f the Natinal Central Cmmittee The elected fficers f the NCC shall be elected at the Natinal Party Cngress. These fficers are as fllws: a. Chairpersn b. Deputy Chairpersn c. Secretary General d. Natinal Directr f Organizatin e. Directr f Internatinal Affairs f. Natinal Directr f Agitatin and Prpaganda g. Natinal Directr f Ecnmic Develpment and Finance h. Natinal Directr f Recruitment and Membership i. Natinal Directr f the African Wmen s Cmmissin j. Natinal Directr f the African Yuth Cmmissin k. Natinal Directr f the African Agricultural and Agricultural Wrkers Cmmissin l. Natinal Directr f the African Labr Cmmissin m. Reginal representatives frm each f the six (6) Party designated regins f the USA The Natinal Directr f Security is appinted under the prergative 13

15 pwers f the Chairpersn. This is a nn-vting psitin n the NCC Officers f the Secretariat a. Secretary General b. Natinal Directr f Organizatin c. Directr f Internatinal Affairs d. Natinal Directr f Agitatin and Prpaganda e. Natinal Directr f Ecnmic Develpment and Finance f. Natinal Directr f Recruitment and Membership The Secretariat is that bdy f Natinal Central Cmmittee ffices cllectively respnsible fr verseeing the day-t-day implementatin f Party plicy as determined by the Natinal Party Cngress and the Natinal Central Cmmittee and guided by the Secretary General in cnsultatin with the Office f the Chairpersn The Secretariat shall meet nt less than eight times per year, whenever practical, during the mnths f February, March, May, June, August, September, Nvember and December, with ntices f meetings and agendas sent t fficers f the Secretariat nt less than ne week prir t meetings Appinted NCC Members frm cnstituent rganizatins Officers may be appinted t the NCC frm cnstituent rganizatins as the situatin may require with a tw-thirds affirmative vte frm sitting NCC members. Examples f such rganizatins are: a. Internatinal Peple s Demcratic Uhuru Mvement b. All African Peple s Develpment and Empwerment Prject c. African Natinal Prisn Organizatin d. African Internatinal Student Organizatin 6.3 Cptatin may be utilized t fill vacancies in the Natinal Central Cmmittee. Officers may be appinted t the NCC using the prcess f 14

16 cptatin with a tw-thirds affirmative vte f sitting NCC members in the event that the electin at the Natinal Party Cngress des nt fill all psitins n the NCC. The prcess f cptatin may be utilized t fill psitins n the NCC in the event a member f the NCC becmes incapacitated, dies in ffice r is remved frm ffice. 6.4 Officers f the NCC may be remved frm ffice fr cause. Remval frm ffice may be executed fr grss miscnduct, theft r misuse f Party resurces, vilatins f the Party Cnstitutin, exhibiting disunity with the Party prgram r plicies, persistent failure t perfrm the duties and respnsibilities f ffice r psitin r any actins that serve t discredit r undermine the Party r its prgrams. An fficer may be remved by a twthirds vte f the NCC after a frmal charge is levied against an fficer and the charges are substantiated by a Party inquiry. 6.5 The Reginal Cnference shall implement the discussin f the Plitical Reprt t the Natinal Party Cngress, Party cnstitutinal amendments, plicy change prpsals, develpment and review f reslutins fr presentatin at the Natinal Party Cngress. Nminatins f Reginal Representatives t the Natinal Central Cmmittee shall be effected at the Reginal Cnferences t be ratified by the entire Party at the Natinal Party Cngress. Each regin cnsists f Lcal Party Organizatins The Reginal Cnference shall cnvene every three years, r at least three mnths befre each Natinal Party Cngress Each area f the USA will cnstitute ne f six regins: Nrtheast, Nrthwest, Sutheast, Suthwest, Midwest, and West. 6.6 The Reginal Cmmittee is the leading bdy f the Regin between Reginal Cnferences. The respnsibilities f the Reginal Cmmittee shall 15

17 include but are nt limited t verseeing the rganizatin, develpment, building and grwth f Lcal Party Organizatins within the regin, prviding training fr lcal leaders within the regin and rganizing the Reginal Cnference. The Reginal Cmmittee will meet n a quarterly basis and may increase the meeting schedule as needed fr the efficient peratin f the regin. Pwers and functins f fficers f the NCC will apply t RC fficers with necessary changes Officers f the APSP-USA Reginal Cmmittees (RC) are as fllws: a. Reginal Representative b. Reginal Secretary c. Reginal Crdinatr f Organizatin d. Reginal Crdinatr f Agitatin and Prpaganda e. Reginal Crdinatr f Ecnmic Develpment and Finance f. Reginal Crdinatr f Recruitment and Membership g. Reginal Crdinatr f the African Wmen s Cmmissin h. Reginal Crdinatr f the African Yuth Cmmissin i. Reginal Crdinatr f the African Agricultural and Peasant Cmmissin j. Reginal Crdinatr f the African Labr Cmmissin The Reginal Crdinatr f Security is appinted by the Reginal Representative in cnsultatin with the Natinal Chairpersn. This is a nnvting psitin n the Reginal Cmmittee 6.7 Lcal Party Organizatins (LPO) are subrdinate t and lcated within a particular regin f the USA. The Lcal Party Organizatin is the next level f rganizatin belw the Regin. The Lcal Party Organizatin is a citywide structure f lwer Party Units. The Officers f the LPO are elected n an annual basis. (Nte: The NCC has designated sme cities as exceptins t the citywide LPO structure. This will include New Yrk City where each brugh is t be cnsidered a city because f the large ppulatins. The NCC 16

18 maintains the right t designate ther cities in a similar manner t maximize the efficient peratin f the LPO) Officers f the Lcal Party Organizatin are as fllws: a. Lcal Party Lead Organizer b. Lcal Party Secretary c. Lcal Party Organizer fr Agitatin and Prpaganda d. Lcal Party Organizer fr Ecnmic Develpment and Finance e. Lcal Party Organizer fr Recruitment and Membership f. Lcal Party Burning Spear Agent g. Lcal Party Organizer fr Security (nn-vting). 6.8 The Party Unit is the basic frm f Party rganizatin. A Party Unit may be frmed in a prisn, wrkplace, neighbrhd r blck etc. within a city. It is the rganizatin that will execute the Party prgram at the grund level f rganizing. The Party Unit will cnsist f a minimum f three members, the necessary number fr implementatin f the demcratic centralist principle f ne Unit Leader and tw fllwers. The term f ffice f the unit fficers will be ne year, starting frm the date the Unit is frmed. The Unit cnsists f the fllwing fficers: a. Unit Leader b. Unit Secretary c. Unit Leader f Agitatin and prpaganda d. Unit Leader f Membership and Recruitment e. Unit Leader f Finance and Ecnmic Develpment f. Unit Burning Spear Agent 6.9 The African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee (APSC) is a Party rganizatin with a specific identity. It is cmprised primarily f Nrth Americans and wrks directly under the leadership f the Natinal Central Cmmittee 17

19 thrugh the Office f the Chairpersn. The APSC is the primary rganizatin thrugh which well-meaning whites r Eur-American peple and rganizatins can unite under the leadership f the African Revlutin in pursuit f African liberatin, unificatin and scialism. Unity with the APSC prvides accuntability t white individuals and rganizatins that claim plitical and ecnmic activism mtivated by unity with African liberatin. This subrdinate structural relatinship t the Party leadership is a reflectin f the lcatin f Nrth Americans and Eurpeans t the parasitic capitalist plitical ecnmy and the plitical structures thrugh which the Eurimperialists exercise their explitative will. It is a reflectin f ur understanding that the struggle fr African liberatin, unificatin and scialism is als a struggle fr black self-determinatin and the cnslidatin f the internatinally dispersed African natin The primary task f the APSC is t extend the struggle fr African liberatin, unificatin and scialism, as defined by the Party, t the centers f the Eur-American ppulatin. It is an rganized secnd frnt f the African Liberatin Mvement under the leadership f the African wrking class as represented by its advanced detachment, the African Peple s Scialist Party-USA A crucial aspect f the wrk f APSC is the pursuit f reparatins fr African peple frm the Eur-American gvernments, crpratins and ppulatin. APSC is the cncrete, rganizatinal representatin f the reality that the highest expressin f genuine plitical unity with the struggle f clnized African peple frm thse f the ppressr natin ppulatin is material slidarity Amng the material slidarity effrts f the African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee are varius APSC-created and/r administered Party institutins, dnr campaigns and ecnmic develpment and fundraising prjects. Alng with the general pursuit f reparatins fr African peple, APSC is als 18

20 tasked with the respnsibility f implementing material slidarity thrugh the pursuit f intellectual, plitical and ther resurces required by the Party fr the advancement f the African liberatin struggle. Material slidarity with the Party in the advancement f African liberatin is ne f the factrs that distinguishes APSC wrk frm charity and defines it as slidarity All prperties and relatinships acquired by APSC in the pursuit f its aims are the prperty f the African Peple s Scialist Party. This includes all businesses and ther financial institutins and initiatives, all f which shall be frmally wned by the Party r its designated rganizatin(s) In pursuit f its plitical missin t win plitical and material slidarity within the Eur-American ppulatin fr the cause f African liberatin, unificatin and scialism, the APSC shall rganize an annual Day f Slidarity with African Peple r African Peple s Slidarity Day in additin t the ther mbilizatins, frums and cnferences designed t win supprt t the Party s aims and prgrams The African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee shall cnduct a Natinal APSC Cnference every three years r at least three mnths prir t the Natinal Party Cngress fr the purpse f discussing the Party s Plitical Reprt r Main Reslutin t the Cngress, elect its natinal leadership and prpse reslutins t the Party s Natinal Cngress The APSC shall als cnduct an annual Natinal Plenary t review its prgress in carrying ut its missin, t give reprts t its members and receive reprts frm relevant members and cnstituent rganizatins and/r cmmittees The structure f the APSC shall replicate the structure f the Party as reflected in this Cnstitutin, which is binding n the African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee, its membership and cnstituent rganizatins. ARTICLE 7.0 QUORUM 19

21 7.1 The minimum number f members required fr lawful transactin f business f the Party Cngresses, Cnferences and all its Cmmittees acrss all spheres f the Party shall be a simple majrity f delegates r members f the relevant cmmittee, as the case may be, in attendance f a duly cnstituted Cngress, Cnference r meeting f any Party Cmmittees. 8.0 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 8.1 This Cnstitutin may be amended by a tw-thirds vte f the delegates present and vting at the APSP-USA Cngress. Each Lcal Party Organizatin shall be allwed three vtes at the Natinal Party Cngress. Any amendments must be in written frm and submitted 90 days prir t the Cngress. All amendments t the Cnstitutin must fllw this prcess f pre-cngress discussin. ARTICLE 9.0 POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL CENTRAL COMMITTEE a. CHAIRPERSON Chief representative f the rganizatin natinally; Presides ver the meetings f the NCC; Supervises, cntrls and manages the Secretariat and all NCC elected ffice bearers in the perfrmance f their duties and exercise f their pwers; Ensures and supervises the implementatin f the Party visin, mandate, Cngress and r cnference reslutins; Initiates and maintains diplmatic alliances, united frnts and internatinal relatins; 20

22 Prmtes and advances the gals, plicies and visin f the rganizatin; Takes decisins in the best interests f the rganizatin, with such decisins in due curse being subject t ratificatin by the NCC r Natinal Party Cngress; The Chairpersn may delegate sme f his/her respnsibilities t the Deputy Chairpersn r anther member f the NCC; Reprts and accunts t the NCC fr the exercise and perfrmance f his/her pwers and functins; Gives a Plitical Reprt at each Cngress; Prergative pwers f the Chairpersn will be as fllws: a. Appintment f the Natinal Directr f Security in cnsultatin with the NCC. b. Cnsultatin with the Reginal Representative in the appintment f the Reginal Crdinatr f Security c. Appints the President f the Internatinal Peple s Demcratic Uhuru Mvement. d. Appints the Chairpersn f the African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee. b. DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON Anticipates the needs f the Chairman; Cnducts r crdinates research, prepares speeches, presentatins and talking pints fr the Chairman n an array f tpics and fr a breadth f cnstituents; Liaises with Party and mvement leadership; Ensures infrmatin flw t and frm the Chairman s Office, via all types f venues (frums, crrespndence, speeches, cnferences, retreats, etc.) 21

23 Facilitates cmmunicatin and wrks clsely with the Chairman s Administrative Assistant; Acts as the Chairman s representative and ambassadr t external cnstituents as directed; Oversees the peratins, staff and budget f the Chairman s Office; In cllabratin with the Administrative Assistant, ensures planning fr key cmmittees and bard meetings t include: Crdinatin f the Chairman s tur Tracking, mnitring and fllw-up f the prgress f prjects, actin items, strategies that emanate frm the Chairman s staff, Central Cmmittee and ther apprpriate mvement meetings, etc.; Develps mems, cmmuniqués, and crrespndence; Prepares agendas, identifies meeting participants; Cllects, prepares and distributes apprpriate briefing materials; Ensures that apprpriate fllw-up actins are taken; Initiates subsequent fllw-up meetings and cmmunicatin fr key cmmittees and thers as directed; Wrks with the Administrative Assistant t ensure accuracy, crdinatin, and priritizatin f the calendar; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. c. SECRETARY GENERAL Cnvenes the NCC and Secretariat meetings in cnsultatin with the Chairpersn as required by the Cnstitutin; Respnsible fr the day-t-day administratin f the Party; Cnvenes cnferences and Cngresses as mandated by the NCC; Keeps an up-t-date register f all members, structures and cmmittees f the rganizatin; 22

24 Represents the rganizatin in any frums as may be required by circumstances r delegated by the NCC; Prduces and archives all recrds f the NCC, the Secretariat, cnferences and Cngresses; Guides and supervises directrs in the exercise and perfrmance f their pwers and functins with the exceptin f the Internatinal Directr f Organizatin; Sends reprts and liaises with the Chairpersn; Gives an administrative reprt t the Cngress. Shall act with all pwers f the Chairpersn in the event the Chairpersn is incapacitated r dies while in ffice. These pwers will be retained by the Secretary General until a special electin is called by the Central Cmmittee within 90 days f assuming these pwers, r until the next regularly scheduled electin at the Natinal Party Cngress, whichever cmes first; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. d. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION Develps and implements mass mbilizatin strategies; Wrks clsely with directrs f varius cmmissins f the APSP-USA; Develps membership services; Wrks clsely with the Directr f Agitatin and Prpaganda in implementing cadre develpment prgrams; Gives an rganizatinal reprt at each Cngress and cnferences as requested by the NCC; Reprts t the Deputy Chairpersn when the NCC is nt sitting; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. e. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF AGITATION AND PROPAGANDA 23

25 Manages the Party Schl t facilitate cmmissariat activities and cadre develpment; Develps and implements prgrams t educate members in the idelgy, principles, plicies, histry, and ther relevant plitical, philsphical and idelgical theries and practices; Prpses a plitical educatin curriculum t be apprved by the NCC; Arranges fr leadership, management and ther skills training prgrams; Arranges fr academic deplyment f Party members in varius fields f study in line with the skill demands f the Party in fulfilling its plitical mandate; Crdinates Party plitical cmmunicatin; Arranges press cnferences and all media interviews fr the NCC r any member f the NCC; Manages and maintains a Party archive t prvide library services t Party members; Liaises with all Party structures t ensure c-crdinated and cnsistent relay f infrmatin; Ensures there is cnsultatin n any public cmmunicatin matter; Reprts t the Secretariat when the NCC is nt sitting; Gives a Media and Publicity Reprt at each Cngress; Crdinates The Burning Spear newspaper, Uhuru News, Uhuru Radi, party publicatins and all media utlets f the Party; Builds the ecnmic self-sufficiency f the Agit-Prp Department; Develps the capacity f Agit-Prp t cntribute financially t the budget needs f the Party. Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. f. DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 24

26 Serves as the ambassadr t prmte the bjectives f the African Peple s Scialist Party-USA in the African and nn-african wrld; Liaises with internatinal multilateral bdies and plitical rganizatins; Ensures representatin and prmtin f the rganizatin internatinally; Establishes and directs internatinal prjects; Is respnsible fr the frmulatin f internatinal affairs plicy; Reprts t the Secretary General; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. g. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE Prmtes Party ecnmic self reliance and develpment plicies; Prvides leadership t the subrdinate ecnmic structures thrughut the Party; Prvides versight ver resurces and fundraising institutins built and/r administered by the African Peple s Slidarity Cmmittee; Prvides financial and related expertise t the entire Party and its cmpnent parts; Prvides training in financial matters fr the Party and its cnstituent rganizatins; Establishes and versees standardized plicies within the Party and its structures fr efficient, apprpriate and security-based handling f finances and ther resurces; Liaises with the varius departments f the Party t establish, versee and achieve the budget requirements f the Party; Develps and implements resurce generatin and mbilizatin strategies t ensure resurces are raised fr prgrams, events, cnferences and the Party Cngress; 25

27 Shall be respnsible and accuntable fr the cllectin, receipt and banking f all funds f the rganizatin; Ensures audit f the financial statements f the funds f the rganizatin; Implements the financial plicy f the rganizatin; Reprt t the Secretariat and the NCC; Gives a Financial Reprt t the Central Cmmittee quarterly January, April, July and Octber f each year and an audited Financial Reprt t the Natinal Party Cngress; Manages and maintains Party resurces and assets; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. h. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN WOMEN S COMMISSION Cnstitutes a cmmittee f three (3) r mre members t serve in the cmmissin; Develps and implements a mbilizatin strategy and plicy n African wmen; The cmmissin will fcus n the mbilizatin and advancement f the plight f African wmen; Interacts with and mbilizes rganizatins prmting the advancement f the interests f African wmen; Develps and implements prgrams and prjects t advance the interests f African wmen; Reprts t the NCC and Natinal Party Cngress; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. i. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN YOUTH COMMISSION Cnstitutes a cmmittee f three (3) r mre members between the ages f 18 and 35 t serve n the cmmissin; 26

28 Develp and implement a mbilizatin strategy and the African yuth plicy; Cmmissin shall fcus n the mbilizatin and advancement f the plight f African yuth; Interacts with and mbilizes rganizatins prmting the advancement f the interests f African yuth; Develps and implements prgrams and prjects t advance the interests f African yuth; Reprt t the NCC and Natinal Party Cngress; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. j. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL AND PEASANT COMMISSION Cnstitutes a cmmittee f three (3) r mre members t serve n the cmmissin; Develps and implements a mbilizatin strategy and African agricultural and peasant wrkers plicy; Cmmissin shall fcus n the mbilizatin and advancement f the plight f African agricultural and peasant wrkers; Interacts with and mbilizes rganizatins prmting the advancement f the interests f African agricultural and peasant wrkers; Develps and implements prgrams and prjects t advance the interests f African agricultural and peasant wrkers; Reprts t the NCC and the Natinal Party Cngress; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. k. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICAN LABOR COMMISSION Cnstitutes a cmmittee f three (3) r mre members t serve in the cmmissin; 27

29 Develps and implements a mbilizatin strategy and African labr plicy; Cmmissin shall develp a strategy fr intrducing the thery f African Internatinalism int the ranks f African labr; Cmmissin will assist African labr t becme cnscius f the African Peple s Scialist Party as the plitical party f African labr thrugh which African labr will realize its histric missin f becming the new ruling class f a liberated, united African prletarian natin. Cmmissin shall fcus n the mbilizatin and advancement f the plight f African labr; Interacts with and mbilizes rganizatins prmting the advancement f the interests f African labr; Develps and implements prgrams and prjects t advance the interests f African labr; Reprts t the NCC and Natinal Party Cngress; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. l. NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF SECURITY * (NON-VOTING) Duties will be determined frm time t time in accrdance with all strategic and security interests f the rganizatin; Builds and versees a security apparatus f the Party, securing the Chairman, leadership and membership f the Party based n a relatinship with the masses f African wrkers and grunded in the thery f African Internatinalism and the principles f demcratic centralism; Implements legitimate and revlutinary instructins frm the Chairpersn r the NCC in accrdance with the principles f demcratic centralism; 28

30 Reprts all security matters t the Chairpersn r anther member f the NCC designated by the Chairpersn; Builds ffice t capacity, which includes staffing, prcedures and ffice hurs. 29