Page:Platform and Constitution of the Socialistic Labor Party (1885).pdf/5

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— 4 —

CONSTITUTION

— OF THE —

SOCIALISTIC LABOR PARTY.


I. MANAGEMENT.

The affairs of the Party arg conducted by the National Executive Committee, the National Board of Supervision, the local Sections, the National Conventions, and by the general vote.

II. CONVENTIONS.

The National Convention.

1. National Conventions of the Party shall take place according to the needs of the times. The National Executive Committee is obliged to have a general vote taken every year before April 15th, in order to ascertain whether and where National Convention is to take place; a general vote shall also be taken if three Sections in three different States shall demand it. Ten Sections in five different States may call a National Convention. Every Section belonging to the Party for three months prior to the National Convention, and which has fulfilled all its obligations, is entitled to representation therein by one delegate for each 100 members or fraction thereof. Each delegate shall have only one vote. Proxy delegates must receive their credentials from the Sections they represent.

2. The National Convention frames the National Platform, decides the form of organization, elects the place where the next National Executive Committee and Board of Supervision will be located, and investigates and decides all difficulties within the Party.

3. The expense of the delegates will be borne by the Sections sending them. The business expenses of the National Convention will be paid by the Party.

III. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

1. The National Executive Committee consists of nine members, to be elected by the Section of the place where the Committee is located. From among its members the Committee elects a Corresponding Secretary for home and one for foreign affairs, also. a Financial Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer and two Auditors.

2. Vacancies in the Executive Committee will be held with members elected by the Section as above stated, The National Executive Committee shall declare vacant the seat of any of its members for absence from three consecutive meetings without sufficient excuse, and is authorized to order the Section of its locality to fill the vacancy.

3. The term of office of the National Executive Committee extends from one Convention to the next Convention.