The SSP is a new, developing party ready to learn from our members' experience of campaigns and struggle, as well as from those outwith the party. We envisage that our structures will continue to develop over time in the light of circumstances, experience and full consultation with the membership.
2.1 An individual member of the SSP is someone who accepts the Aims and Objectives, agrees to abide by the constitution and pays subs. Members are encouraged to participate in the SSP and promote Scottish Socialist Voice. Branches will normally accept new members.
2.2 Trade union bodies - including trade union branches, shop steward committees and district, regional or national level trade union organisations - can affiliate to the SSP. Affiliated organisations have the right of representation to Regional Councils and National Council. All representatives from affiliates must also be individual SSP members.
2.3 Individual subscription and affiliation rates will be decided by National Conference.
2.4 (a) The SSP seeks to build a broad, pluralist and inclusive party. It is important that all members and affiliates participate within the SSP in this positive manner.
(b) Members and affiliates are encouraged to recognise that different opinions are valued and diversity and dissent is positive.
(c) The SSP strives for an internal atmosphere of openness, tolerance and respect where everyone is encouraged to fully participate at all levels.
(d) The SSP is opposed to racism, sexism, sectarianism, homophobia and all forms of discrimination. Members and affiliates should reflect this in their language and behaviour.
3.1 The SSP organises vigorously at local branch level. The SSP recognises that healthy and active branches are the building blocks of party progress.
3.2 Branches are organised on geographical areas, generally based on electoral boundaries. Branch members in liaison with their Regional Council can agree to subdivide their branch to create new branches.
3.3 Individual members are entitled to participate in branches, based upon residency, place of work or place of study.
3.4 Branches should aim to meet fortnightly but meet at least monthly and aim to organise activities (eg further meetings, stalls, leafleting etc) at least on a fortnightly basis.
3.5 (a) Branches will organise an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at which a Chairperson, a Secretary/organiser', a Membership Secretary, a Treasurer, a Paper Organiser, and any other positions agreed by the branch to be necessary shall be elected. Branch delegates to Regional Council and National Council and any other appropriate delegations shall also be elected at the AGM.
(b) Vacant positions, or positions created to meet a newly-identified need, may be filled by election at an ordinary branch meeting if members have been given proper notice.
3.6 Members should be informed of all branch meetings and activities. Members should receive at least two weeks notice of the branch AGM, candidate selection meetings and any other branch meetings at which elections are to take place (such as the selection of the National Conference delegation).
4.1 The SSP organises in eight regions: Highlands and Islands, North East Scotland, Central Scotland, Mid-Scotland and Fife, Glasgow, West of Scotland, Lothian, and South of Scotland.
4.2 (a) In each region a Regional Council will be responsible for co-ordinating and prioritising campaigning and organisational activities, for assisting in the creation and building of branches and for encouraging political education within the framework of the decisions of the SSP's national structures.
(b) Regional Councils will aim to meet monthly.
(c) Regional Councils will consist of two delegates from each branch, one delegate from each regional Network, delegates from regional affiliates (on a basis to be agreed by the National Council/Regional Council), and the regional officers (including the Regional Organiser(s)). The branch delegation will normally consist of the branch secretary and one other delegate elected at the branch AGM.
(d) Trade Union organisations can also affiliate at this level.
(e) Branches, regional networks, regional affiliates, the Regional Organiser(s), and other regional officers have the right to submit motions to Regional Council.
4.3 In each region a Regional Organiser(s) will be responsible for implementing the decisions of Regional Council and regional aggregates, giving political and strategic advice and co-ordinating the work of branches and other regional bodies in liaison with other regions and the SSP's national structures.
4.4 (a) A regional AGM shall take place at which all members of the region shall be entitled to participate and vote.
(b) The regional AGM will elect the Regional Organiser(s), a regional chairperson, a regional secretary, a regional treasurer, and any other regional officers agreed by the Regional Council or regional aggregate to be necessary. Candidates for election at the regional AGM will require the nomination of one branch from the region.
(c) The Regional Organiser(s) and other regional officers will provide a written report to the regional AGM on their activities over the previous year and their plans for the future.
4.5 In addition to the regional AGM, the Regional Council may agree to call an aggregate meeting of all members within the region at any time in order to involve the whole membership in the discussion of an important issue.
4.6 Regional Councils/regional aggregates can elect sub committees as necessary to develop campaign and political education proposals and to organise events. Sub committees do not have to consist of delegates to the Regional Council, but are accountable to the Regional Council and regional aggregate.
4.7 (a) Regional AGMs should elect local government committees to cover council areas where SSP councillors are elected in order to co-ordinate the party's activities in relation to the council. Local government committees should consist of the SSP's councillors, the Regional Organiser, representatives of the Regional Council, and one representative of each branch in the area covered by the council.
(b) Each local government committee is accountable to the Regional Council and regional aggregate, which may endorse, amend or reject its proposals. Local government committees should circulate regular reports on their activities and proposals.
5.1 National Council is responsible for implementing party policy between conferences and monitoring the work of the Executive Committee, standing committees and sub committees/working parties. It is the body that takes stock, learns lessons and readjusts strategy where necessary between conferences as well as implementing policy agreed at conference.
5.2 (a) National Council will consist of the Executive Committee, branch delegates, national network delegates, one Scottish Socialist Youth delegate, one delegate from the SSP's student groups, and (when applicable) national affiliate delegates. National Council will aim to meet at least every two months. In addition the following office bearers are members of the National Council (if not already members of the EC): the Press and Publicity Officer, the Assistant Secretary/Minutes, the International Co-ordinator, the trade union co-ordinator, the second editor of the Scottish Socialist Voice, and all Regional Organisers.
(b) Branches should elect a minimum of two delegates per branch (for the first 40 members and then an additional delegate for each additional 20, or part of 20).
(c) Affiliates are entitled to delegates to the National Council on a basis to be agreed by National Conference (or National Council between conferences).
(d) Branches and affiliates should to seek a gender balance in their delegations. Branches should ensure that at least one member of a delegation of two is a women and that larger delegations consist of at most one more man than a women, eg, a delegation of three should include at least one women, but a delegation of four should include at least two women.
(e) All national Networks have the right to send one delegate to National Council.
(f) All registered platforms/tendencies have the right to send observers to the National Council.
(g) All national office bearers and national spokespersons who are not delegates to National Council are encouraged to attend and participate as observers.
5.3 Branches, national networks, national affiliates, the national structures of Scottish Socialist Youth and the SSP's student groups, and the Executive Committee have the right to send motions and amendments to National Council.
5.4 The National Council can elect sub committees/working parties as necessary to look in detail at specific areas of policy development, to develop campaign proposals and to organise events. Sub committees/working parties do not have to consist of delegates to National Council, but are accountable to National Council. Sub committees/working parties should report to the Executive Committee and National Council.
5.5 The National Council has the right to call a Special Conference if it considers this to be necessary. A Special Conference can also be called by a signed requisition of 20% of the members.
5.6 The National Council should attempt to meet every two months. The National Council should circulate minutes of its meetings to branches.
6.1 The Executive Committee provides political and strategic leadership and is responsible for the day to day running of the party. The Executive Committee is accountable for all its actions to National Council and National Conference.
6.2 (a) The Executive Committee consists of the National Convenor, National Secretary, National Co-Chairs, National Treasurer, the SSV Editor, the National Trade Union Co-ordinator and 14 members directly elected at National Conference.
(b) To ensure gender balance for the directly elected positions National Conference will elect seven women by STV and seven men by STV.
(c) If no member of the Executive Committee is a member of a branch in one of the SSP's eight regions, the candidate from that region with the highest number of votes in the election for directly-elected places will serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
(d) The Regional Organisers, the Minutes Secretary and the Press and Publicity Co-ordinator can attend Executive Committee meetings as observers. The relevant office bearers, spokespersons and committee members should be entitled to observe discussions of the Executive Committee related to their field of responsibility.
6.3 (a) The National Secretary and National Co-Chairs in liaison with the Executive Committee will draw up the agenda for each National Council meeting.
(b) The Executive Committee should refer all major decisions to National Council. This does not preclude the Executive Committee reaching interim decisions on urgent matters and seeking the ratification of National Council at the earliest opportunity.
(c) Minutes of Executive Committee meetings should be tabled at National Council meetings.
6.4 The Executive Committee should meet at least monthly. The Executive Committee should circulate minutes of its meetings to branches.
7.1 National Conference is the sovereign body of the SSP. National Conference should take place within 13 months of the previous annual conference. Between times, however, the elected National Council should conduct the party's affairs with the elected Executive Committee and eight elected Regional Councils supporting it.
7.2 (a) National policy will be democratically decided by a National Conference. SSP conferences are organised on a delegate basis from branches with one delegate for every four branch members, to be elected by branch consensus, or, in the event of a contest, by single transferable vote.
(b) Branches are encouraged to seek gender balance in their delegations. Women should make up at least one-third of a branch's delegation.
(c) Branches are expected to ensure that their conference delegates are up-to-date with their membership subscriptions.
(d) Branches should provide a full list of members to the Membership Secretary/National Secretary as soon as possible after a conference has been called and certainly no later than the deadline for motions.
(e) A branch can consider people as members if they have agreed to join, agreed and paid a membership subscription and are no more than six months in arrears with their membership subscriptions.
(f) Party members are also welcome to attend National Conference as visitors. Party visitors can participate in debates (including to move a branch, network or platform/tendency motion) but they will not have voting rights.
(g) Non party visitors to National Conference cannot routinely participate in debates.
(h) Branches are not entitled to mandate delegates to National Conference.
7.3 (a) Branches and national affiliates can send two motions and two amendments to National Conference.
(b) The Executive Committee has the right to send motions to National Conference in order to initiate debates on areas of key strategic and political importance.
(c) National Council may submit the proposals of sub committees, working parties or standing committees, as amended by National Council, to National Conference in the form of motions.
(d) Sub committees or working parties established by conference motion may be charged to submit proposals directly to National Conference.
(e) National Networks, have the right to send one motion and one amendment to National Conference.
(f) The national structures of Scottish Socialist Youth and the SSP's student groups each have the right to submit one motion and one amendment to National Conference.
(g) A platform/tendency whose platform is registered with the National Council has the right to send one motion and one amendment to National Conference in its own name signed by 10 members of the SSP.
7.4 Each national office bearers and spokespersons is expected to submit a written report to National Conference on their activities (including the implementation of any relevant decisions made by the preceding conference), and on developments over the previous year in their field of responsibility. Reports should not seek to develop new policy and will not be voted on by conference. Branches may submit questions about any aspect of the reports.
7.5 If a motion or amendment seeking to amend, delete or add to any part of the Aims and Principles section of the constitution is agreed by conference by less than two-thirds of votes cast, a full debate on the motion/amendment will take place throughout the party. A debate and a vote will take place on the motion/amendment at the next National Conference (or at a Special Conference) at which a simple majority of votes cast will be required to ratify the motion/amendment.
7.6 Branches/Regional Councils have the right to determine local/regional policy on local/regional matters within the framework of national policy agreed by National Conference and National Council.
8.1 National Conference will elect all national office bearers. Office bearers will be responsible for processing the decisions of National/Special Conferences and National Council. Office bearers will be as follows:
8.2 The National Conference/Council can also elect members as Party Spokespersons to communicate with the media on specific topics (eg on the Environment, Employment etc). The Executive Committee can appoint Spokespersons between National Council meetings but the appointment can only be until the appointment is ratified or not by the next National Council meeting.
8.3 The Executive Committee should oversee expense payments to members who are regular volunteers.
9.1 National Conference will elect a Conference Arrangements Committee. This committee will be:
(a) elected each year by the outgoing conference to deal with next year's conference;
(b) made up of nine people; one active SSP member from each region and one other SSP member from anywhere, but including no members of the Executive Committee;
(c) responsible for the timing and running of conference agenda, including sending out a prioritised motion or resolution ballot form to each branch, and facilitating the compositing of motions where appropriate.
9.2 Conference Arrangements Committee will maintain a set of Procedures and Standing Orders for conducting the business of National Conference that may be amended by National Council or National Conference. [See Appendix A.]
10.1 National Conference can establish standing committees to oversee specific areas of the party's work. Standing committees provide an opportunity for office bearers and spokespersons to share their workload and for the experience of as broad a range of party members as possible to contribute to the development of party policy and campaigning initiatives.
10.2 Standing committees are accountable to the national structures of the SSP, which have the right to endorse, amend or reject the proposals of standing committees. Standing committees should provide regular reports outlining their work and proposals for action.
10.3 The following standing committees will be established:
(a) A Scottish Parliamentary Committee to oversee the strategy and tactics of the SSP group of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. The committee will consist of all the SSP's MSPs, four representatives of the Executive Committee, and members equivalent to half the membership of the committee directly elected by National Conference. The committee should report to every meeting of the Executive Committee and National Council.
(b) a Publications Committee responsible for advising on the development of the Scottish Socialist Voice and any other publications (including magazines, pamphlets, books, and on-line publications) that the SSP decides to launch. The committee will not have editorial responsibility for the content of publications, but will take a strategic overview. The committee will consist of the editor, assistant editor and circulation manager of the Scottish Socialist Voice, the National Assistant Secretary (web site), the on-line publications editor, and five members directly elected by National Conference.
(c) an International Committee to further the project of an international socialist alliance, build links with socialists throughout the world and to focus on the SSP response to international events. The committee will consist of the International Secretary and seven members directly elected by National Conference.
(d) a Trade Union Committee to assist with the development of the SSP's trade union strategy and the party's trade union groups. The committee will consist of the Trade Union Co-ordinator and members directly elected by National Conference. The Size of the committee to be reviewed annually by the SSP's national structures.
(e) a Youth and Student Committee to assist with the co-ordination and development of the SSP's youth and student work. The committee will consist of the Youth Organiser, the Student Co-ordinator, five members elected by the annual meeting/conference of Scottish Socialist Youth, and the five members elected by the national meeting/conference of the SSP's student groups.
(f) a Finance Committee to provide an overview of the work of the SSP's treasurers (at all levels), ensure the party conforms with legal requirements and to present proposals for national fundraising activities. The committee will make available details of the party's finances to the membership between National Conferences. The committee will consist of the National Treasurer, the eight regional treasurers and two members directly elected by National Conference.
(g) a Staff Committee to make proposals for establishing proper and fair procedures for employing staff and paying fees and expenses. The committee to consist of three representatives of the Executive Committee and three members directly elected by National Conference.
11.1 Members can organise in Networks agreed by National Conference/National Council/Regional Council.
11.2 (a)Networks can be set up to encourage the self-organisation of members of the SSP who suffer from specific discrimination and to enable them to organise collectively in campaigns against oppression and to take a lead in the party on these issues.
(b) Networks can also be set up to bring together members of the SSP interested in campaigning on a specific issue. Such networks can help to bring together members who are active in campaigns in order to intervene more effectively, co-ordinate activity, promote the party's policies and feed-back experience into the party.
(c) Networks must submit their constitution to National Conference/National Council/Regional Council for approval prior to being launched. These should state who is eligible to join the network, the activities it intends to undertake and how the internal democracy of the network will operate. Networks should submit written reports to National Council/Regional Council on their activity at least twice a year.
11.3 (a)Each Network representing an oppressed group (as defined in 11.2 (a)) has the right to send one delegate to the National Council. Regional Networks representing oppressed groups have the right to send one delegate to Regional Council.
(b) Only networks representing oppressed groups have rights to submit motions to SSP bodies.
12.1 (a)Scottish Socialist Youth will organise meetings of members of the SSP up to the age of 26 years old in order to co-ordinate activities by young members of the SSP.
(b) Scottish Socialist Youth will hold an annual meeting/conference at which a Youth Organiser, a National Council delegate, five members of the Youth and Student Committee, and any other necessary positions will be elected.
(c) Scottish Socialist Youth will submit written reports on its activities to National Council at least twice a year.
12.2 (a)The SSP will endeavour to organise student groups in each college/university.
(b) The SSP's student groups will come together in an annual meeting/conference at which a National Council delegate, five members of the Youth and Student Committee and any other necessary positions will be elected.
(c) The SSP's student groups will submit collective written reports on their activities to National Council at least twice a year.
12.3 Where Scottish Socialist Youth and the SSP's student groups have established appropriate regional structures, they may apply to Regional Councils for rights to send one delegate and to submit motions.
The SSP will endeavour to organise groups of SSP members in each trade union in order to co-ordinate their trade union activities and promote the SSP's trade union strategy.
14.1 Members have the right to organise in Platforms or Tendencies. The SSP, as a pluralist party, recognises that a range of political points of view is a healthy source of debate and new ideas.
14.2 All Platforms/Tendencies should be open - their constitution and aims and objectives should be brought to the attention of the National Council and should be available to all other party members.
14.3 Platforms/Tendencies have a right to be heard, to organise meetings, to produce literature, to distribute materials at SSP meetings and, in general, to try to influence and/or change party policy.
14.4 Platforms/Tendencies are not expected, however, to organise public campaigns against the overall aims or policy of the party.
15.1 At all levels of the SSP voting on policy matters will be by show of hands.
15.2 All internal elections will be by secret ballot, using a transferable voting system. If there is one post to be filled, votes will be transferred until a candidate receives at least 50% of the vote. If there is more than post (eg for branch delegations to conference), votes will be transferred (as described by current Electoral Reform Society rules for STV) until the appropriate number of candidates achieve the required quota.
16.1 The SSP aims for gender equality in all national bodies. Specific measures to ensure gender equality have been adopted in some areas of the party's work. In no circumstances should any elected body consist of more than 66% men or women.
16.2 Where a gender imbalance occurs as a result of the normal voting procedures, a simple top-up system will be operated. This will involve the creation of additional places, open only to the under-represented gender. Elections will be based on the normal election procedures.
17.1 (a)All SSP bodies shall keep members fully informed of their activities.
(b) Elected officers and spokespersons, where appropriate, should provide regular reports on their activities and developments in their field of responsibility.
(c) Minutes, where appropriate, should be kept to record the decisions of meetings.
17.2 (a)All SSP bodies have the right to recall the elected officers and spokespersons accountable to them.
(b) A national office bearer, spokesperson or directly elected Executive Committee member may be recalled by the National Council. A recalled office bearer, spokesperson or directly elected Executive Committee member has the right of appeal to National Conference.
(c) Regional officers (including the Regional Organiser) can be recalled at a special aggregate meeting of all members in the region. A meeting to recall a regional officer must be called if requested in motions submitted by 25% of branches in the region in the course of a three-month period.
(d) Branch officers and delegates can be recalled at a branch meeting specially called for the purpose (branch members must receive two weeks notice).
(e) The recall of candidates for public election should follow the appropriate branch, regional or national procedure.
18.1 National Conference should also elect an Appeals Committee of up to 5 members who are not National Office Bearers.
18.2 Should a branch or National Council refuse anyone membership (or decide an existing member no longer meets the criteria for membership listed in 2.1), the decision must be explained in writing to the Appeals Committee. The individual concerned has the right to appeal in the first instance to the Appeals Committee and then to a full conference.
18.3 (a)In the event of the categories of dispute listed in 18.3 (b) below, the people concerned should first try to resolve the matter. If the matter is not resolved it can be referred to the Appeals Committee. The verdict of the Appeals Committee will be considered to be binding. An individual or party body can then present an appeal to the next National Conference.
(b) The categories of dispute referred to by 18.3 (a) include: (i) a complaint by a member or any party structure against the behaviour of a member in respect of clause 2.4; (ii) a complaint by a member or party structure against the behaviour of a higher body or elected officer/spokesperson in the party; (iii) a dispute in respect to the precise balance between the rights and duties of platforms/tendencies.
19.1 The SSP will seek to contest elections within the limits imposed by resources and finances. The following democratic safeguards will apply:
(a) Members of the SSP in any given electoral area eg council ward, parliamentary constituency, can decide to stand a candidate in an election, provided the decision is ratified by the branch that covers the appropriate area.
(b) Members of the SSP within the relevant electoral ward or constituency will select their candidate using the same voting methods that are used in internal elections, with members from the appropriate branch(es) being entitled to vote.
(c) Any paid-up member is entitled to put her/his name forward as a candidate.
(d) In order to vote in the selection procedure members should have joined at least two months before the selection meeting and be no more than six months in arrears with their membership subscriptions.
(e) Where no members of the SSP live in a given electoral area, any decision to stand in that area will be taken by the most local branches or where no such body exists by a Special Conference or National Council.
19.2 The SSP will ensure gender balance in the selection of candidates for our lists for Scottish Parliamentary elections with women composing half of all candidates on each regional list, half of all lists headed by a women and two of the top four target seats headed by women. [See Appendix B for details of mechanism.]
19.3 Members should not stand or support candidates against the SSP.
19.4 All SSP elected representatives must be prepared to:
(a) represent local/area/national policy and be accountable to the appropriate SSP body.
(b) accept personal pay no more than the average skilled workers wage, with any surplus being donated to the SSP and administered by the Executive Committee appropriately with audited reports to each National Council/Conference.
(c) publish details of all their expenses and how those expenses have been spent and publish details of any outside activities for which they have received payment.
(d) participate in non-violent direct action campaigns and activities in pursuit of the aims and objectives of the SSP on the same basis as any other SSP member.
19.5(a)Where more than one SSP candidate is elected to a Parliament or council, the elected SSP representatives will form an SSP group. A standing committee will also be established (by National Conference/National Council or Regional Council as appropriate). The SSP group in liaison with its standing committee will co-ordinate strategy and tactics.
(b) The SSP group and standing committee are accountable to the appropriate SSP body, which may endorse, amend or reject their proposals. The standing committee will circulate regular reports.
19.6 Election manifestos will be drawn up on the basis of party policy and approved by National Council or National Conference. Manifestos for local government elections, where appropriate, may be approved by the party's democratic regional structures.
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