SLPP CONSTITUTION

THE SLPP CONSTITUTION

THE SIERRA LEONE PEOPLE’S PARTY (SLPP)

CLAUSE 1

NAME: The Party shall be known as the 
            "Sierra Leone People’s Party".

Motto: The Motto of the Party shall be
            "ONE COUNTRY, ONE PEOPLE".

　

CLAUSE 2

1. Membership

(1) Classification of membership -There shall be two (2) kinds of                 membership:

(a) Individual membership
(b) Organizational or Associate membership

2. Qualification for Membership

(i) Any person who is a Sierra Leonean and is not less than eighteen (18) years of age is eligible for individual membership of the Party.

(ii) Organizational membership shall be open to all TRADE Unions, Co-operative Societies, Professional, Social, Cultural and Sports Organisations or other Associations or Groups whose aims and objects are approved of by the National Executive Council of the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

3. Admission of Membership

(a) A person who is eligible for membership may be admitted as a            member by enrolment at the National Headquarters or at 
     any constituency branch of the Party.

(b) A party card shall be issued to every member on enrolment upon          PAYMENT of the individual membership fee as determined
     from time to time by the Party Conference. The rightful 
     possession of a party card by a person shall be presumed as              evidence of membership.

(c) An organization or group which is eligible for membership shall             apply to the National Headquarters or to a regional, 
    district or constituency branch, and shall submit a copy of its               constitution and its aims and objectives. On approval of such a           constitution by the National Executive Council of the Party, the              organization may be enrolled upon PAYMENT of the organizational      membership fee as determined from time to time by the Party             Conference.

4. Obligations of Members

    Each member, on admission, is deemed to have accepted the             Principles, Programmes and Constitution of the Party and to have       agreed to conform to the Constitution and Rules and Regulations of     the Party. Each member is obliged to obey all lawful directives from     officials of the Party and to pay the prescribed dues promptly and        regularly.

5. Discipline

   Any member of the Party:

(a) who disobeys or neglects to carry out a lawful instruction from the       Party or any of its officials or
(b) who conducts himself/herself in any manner which is likely to bring      ridicule, hatred or advocates any opinions contrary to those of the      party
or
(c) who contravenes any of the provisions of the Party’s Constitution,      shall be liable to be dealt with as laid down in the rules and                  regulations of the Party.

CLAUSE 3

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of the Party shall be to:

(i) Organise and maintain in the Sierra Leone legislature and in the           country as a whole the Sierra Leone People’s Party.
(ii) Cooperate with all kindred and allied organisations, TRADE Unions     etc. in joint political or other actions in harmony with the Party             Constitution and Regulations.
(iii) Give effect as far as may be practicable to the principles from  time to time approved by the Party Conference.
(iv) Secure for gainfully employed Sierra Leoneans the full fruits of             their industry and administer equitable distribution of income and         encourage INVESTMENT in Sierra Leone by providing incentives to investors.
(v) Protect political, social and economic emancipation of the people,        and more particularly of those who depend directly on their own            exertions by hand or brain for the means of life.
(vi) Cooperate with Political Parties within and outside Sierra Leone in      the struggle for self-determination and good governance,                      protection of HUMAN RIGHTS and elimination of ethnic conflicts         from the continent in particular and the world in general.
(vii) Support the United Nations Organisations and its various                     agencies and other international organisations for the promotion         of peace, socio-economic development, the establishment                  of HUMAN RIGHTS  and the improvement of the under-developed        areas of the world.
(viii) Protect and control the natural resources of the country for the            well-being of the State and its citizens.
(ix) Unify all ethnic groups in Sierra Leone.
(x) Secure religious freedom and worship for all citizens and rights to       all religious organisations to exist in Sierra Leone.
(xi) Provide a system of education which shall promote the progress        of Sierra Leone to the greatest extent and in the best way                    possible.
(xii) Promote democracy, a free MARKET system and economic             development in Sierra Leone.

　

CLAUSE 4

STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY

A. The Party Conference

1. The work of the Party shall be under the direction and control of the Party Conference which itself shall be subject to the Constitution and Rules and Regulations of the Party. The Conference shall meet regularly once in every year at a place approved by the preceeding Conference and also at such other time as may be determined by the National Executive Council.

2. The Party Conference shall be constituted as follows:

(a) The elected national officials of the Party.

(b) All members of the Party in the National Legislature.

(c) Four (4) councillors in SLPP-controlled Local Councils including         the Mayor or Chairman. At least one of the four (4) councillors 
    shall be a woman (where possible).

(d) Two (2) councillors or SLPP members from non-SLPP controlled          councils selected in collaboration with district executives.

(e) Four (4) Regional Secretaries

(f) Four (4) members of the Young GENERATION, (one from each            regions)

(g) Four (4) members of the Women’s Wing, (one from each region)

(h) Four (4) Elders (one from each region)

(i) District Chairman - twelve (12) from the provinces and five (5) from     the Western Area

(j) District Secretaries - twelve (12) from the provinces and five (5)          from the Western Area

(k) District Women Leaders - twelve (12) from the provinces and five        (5) from the Western Area

(l) District Young GENERATION Leaders - twelve (12) from the               provinces and five (5) from the Western Area.
(m) Three (3) delegates from each constituency of the National                 Legislature (Chairman, Women Leader and Young                 GENERATION Leader).

(n) One (1) person for every 50 registered and fully paid members from SLPP North America Region and any other Diaspora branch.

(o) One (1) student from tertiary institution where there is a functional      SLPP executive.

(p) Two (2) representatives from each member organization for the         first two hundred (1st 200) of its members and thereafter one for         each additional two hundred (200).

3. The Party Conference shall:

(a) consider and lay down the broad principles of the Party

(b) determine the programme to be ADOPTED by the Party

(c) examine the policy pursued by the Government in order to ensure that such a policy is in accordance with the principles, aims and objectives of the party

(d) when the party is in Opposition examine the policy of the Government in order to determine the action of the Party both in the Legislature and in the nation

(e) receive and consider Reports from the constituent branches

(f) initiate or approve of plans to raise adequate FUNDS for the programmes of the party

(g) elect the National OFFICERS of the Party biennially

(h) authorize the publication of any newspaper, or pamphlet as it shall deem desirable

(i) nominate a candidate for the Presidential elections.

　

B. National Executive Council

1. There shall be a National Executive Council of the Party which shall     consist of:

(a) The National Officers of the Party

(b) Members of the Party in the National Legislature

(c) Five (5) members to be elected at a regional level, to be adopted at the Party Conference: one of whom should be a member of the Young GENERATION and one (1) a member of the Women’s Wing

(d) District Chairmen - twelve (12) from the provinces and five (5) from the Western Area

(e) Four (4) elders, one nominated by each region

(f) Former Members of PARLIAMENT

2. The National Executive Council shall meet at least once during each session of the legislature and at other times upon notice of no less than fourteen (14) days emergencies excepted.

3. The National Executive Council shall be the principal administrative organ of the Party and shall carry out the programme and policy determined by the Party Conference

4. One third of the members of the National Executive Council shall constitute a quorum at each constituted meeting

5. The duties and powers of the National Executive Council shall include the following:

(a) Ensure the establishment, and to keep in active operation a Constituency Party in every electoral district in the whole of Sierra LEONE, in accordance with the rules laid down by the Party Conference for the purpose

(b) Enforce the Constitution, Standing Orders and Rules of the Party, and to take any action it deems necessary for such purpose whether by way of disaffection of an organization or expulsion of an individual or otherwise. Any such action shall be reported to the next Annual Conference of the Party.

(c) See that all its officers and members conform to the Constitution, Rules and Standing Orders of the Party

(d) Present to the Annual Party Conference a report covering the work and progress of the Party, since the previous conference, together with a duly audited FINANCIAL STATEMENT and accounts

(e) Propose to the Annual Party Conference such amendments to the Constitution, Rules and Standing Orders as may be deemed desirable, and submit to the Annual Party Conference or to any special Party CONFERENCE CALLED in accordance with the Standing Orders, such Resolutions and Declarations affecting the programme, principles and policies of the Party as in its view, may be necessitated by political circumstances

(f) Organize, raise and manage FUNDS in furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Party, including financing national and local elections

(g) Sanction where local politics render necessary modifications in the Rules laid down by the Annual Party Conference for organizations in constituencies and regions, provided that such modifications comply with the spirit and intendment of the Annual Party Conference as not to alter the bases or conditions of affiliated and individual membership, or vary the procedure of the election of members of the legislature

(h) Fill any vacancies occurring between meetings of the Party Conference

(i) The National Executive Council shall exercise the powers vested in it by the Party Conference as the exigencies demand; provided it is within the spirit and intendment of this constitution.

　

C. National Policy Council

The National Chairman and Leader, Deputy National Chairman and Leader, Presidential Candidate, Vice Presidential Candidate, Regional Vice-Chairmen, Secretary-General, Treasurer, National Organizing Secretary, Chaplain, Imam, Leader of Young Generation, Women’s Leader, Chairman of the Parliamentary Council and four (4) elders (one per region) shall constitute the National Policy Council and shall work in close collaboration with the Parliamentary Council.

D. The Parliamentary Council

1. There shall be a Parliamentary Council composed of all Members of      the Party in the National Legislature.

2. The Parliamentary Council shall elect one (1) of its own members to     serve as Chairman of the Parliamentary Council

3. The function of the Parliamentary Council shall be to discuss               matters which will come before the legislature in order to adopt an       agreed party line on all matters

4. Any member of the Party who has a seat in the Legislature and who    fails to support the line  ADOPTED by the Parliamentary Council        shall be subjected to disciplinary action to be determined by the          National Executive Council, provided the member concerned is           given a fair hearing to justify his/her conduct

E. Regional/District Party Organization

1. There shall be Regional Party Branches in the three (3) provinces and in the Western Area with OFFICES in the three (3) provincial headquarter towns and in Freetown

2. Regional Party Branches shall be headed by Regional Vice-Chairmen who shall be elected at the Party Conference

3. Regional party officials shall be as follows:

(i) Regional Vice-Chairman
(ii) Deputy Regional Vice-Chairman
(iii) Regional Secretary
(iv) Regional Organising Secretary
(v) Regional Women’s Leader
(vi) Regional Young GENERATION Leader
(vii) Regional  FINANCIAL Secretary
(viii) Regional Publicity Secretary
(ix) Regional Trustee
(x) Chairman, Elders Council
(xi) Regional Student Leader
(xii) District Chairmen

4. Regional officials shall be elected by delegates (four (4) per district) from the districts in the region, biennially, under the supervision of the Regional Vice-Chairman and all such elections shall be reported to the National Executive Council for approval.

5. Regional party officials shall be responsible for coordinating party activities in the districts and for regional party organization.

6. There shall also be District Party Branches in all twelve (12) districts in the provinces and five (5) in the Western Area.

7. Election of district party officials (not exceeding ten (10) shall be done by delegates three (3) per constituency) from constituency branches of the Party, biennially, under the supervision of the regional executive.

8. District Party Branches shall be headed by District Chairman, who       shall work directly under the Regional Vice-Chairman. They shall be     members of the National Executive Council

9. District party officials shall be responsible for coordinating Party         activities in the constituencies and shall organize such activities in       the district

10. Both regional and district branches shall raise and manage        
      FUNDS in support of party programmes and shall maintain audited       accounts.

　

F. The Constituency Party Organisation

1. There shall be an organized branch of the party in every parliamentary constituency

2. The membership of a constituency branch of the party shall include individual members and representation of member-organisations of the party resident within the area

3. Each constituency shall arrange meetings of its members as and when necessary in order to obtain support for party programmes

4. Each constituency shall make contributions to the National Treasury of the Party as shall be determined from time to time by the Party Conference. It shall maintain its audited accounts and administer its own FUNDS

5. Each constituency shall elect its own officers, set up local sub-branches in towns and villages, make its Rules and Regulations which shall be approved by the National Executive Council

6. Each constituency shall elect a candidate to represent the electorate at general, local and bye-elections under the supervision of the district and shall notify the National Executive Council of its candidate for adoption by the national TICKET

CLAUSE 5

OFFICERS

The National OFFICERS of the Party shall be:

(a) National Chairman and Leader

(b) Deputy National Chairman and Leader

(c) Four (4) Regional Vice-Chairmen one (1) for each province and one for Western Area)

(d) National Secretary-General,

(e) Assistant National Secretary-General

(f) National Treasurer

(g)FINANCIAL Secretary

(h) National Organising Secretary

(i) Assistant National Organising Secretary

(j) Leader of the Women

(k) Assistant Leader, Women

(l) Leader of the Young GENERATION
(m) Secretary General, Young GENERATION

(n) Publicity Secretary

(o) Internal Auditor

(p) Three (3) Legal Advisers

(q) Eight (8) Trustees, two per region

(r) Imam

(s) Chaplain

　

Duties of Officers

(a) Chairman and Leader

The Chairman and Leader shall be the political and administrative head of the Party. He/ she shall preside over meetings of the Party Conference, National Execuive Council and the National Policy Council summoned by the National Secretary-General or the Assistant Secretary-General on his advice. He/she shall promote the policies, principles and programmes of the Party. He’/she shall uphold the Constitution of the Party. He/she shall not vie for the position of Presidential Candidate.

(b) Deputy National Chairman and Leader

He/she shall be the principal assistant to the Chairman and leader shall perform the duties of the Chairman in his absence.

(c) National Secretary General

The National Secretary General shall be in charge and leader of the day to day running of the Party Secretariat under the supervision of the Chairman. He/she shall summon all party meetings at national level on the advice of the Chairman and Leader and shall keep a record of proceedings and minutes of all such meetings. He/she shall conduct the correspondence of the party, internally and externally. He/she shall be assisted in all these duties by the Assistant Secretary-General.

(d) Assistant Secretary-General

The Assistant Secretary-General shall be the principal assistant to the Secretary-General. He/she shall perform the duties of the Secretary-General in his absence and perform all functions and duties delegated to him by the Secretary-General.

(e) National Treasurer

The National Treasurer shall be the custodian of all party FUNDS and shall expend such funds on the approval of the Finance and General Purpose Committee.

(f) FINANCIAL Secretary

He/she shall keep proper records of all FINANCIAL transactions of the Party and shall advice on all financial matters affecting the party.

(g) National Organising Secretary

The National Organising Secretary shall be responsible for organizing and coordinating party activities, and shall recruit and register party members within the country. He/she is the principal liaison officer between the various arms of the party.

(h) National Assistant Organising Secretary

He/she shall be the principal assistant to the Organizing Secretary.

(i) Leader of the Women’s Wing

The Leader of the Women’s Wing shall be the coordinator of the affairs of the women within the party. She shall coordinate her work with the activities of all women’s organizations within the country and shall liaise with the National Organising Secretary.

(j) Assistant Women’s Leader

She shall be the principal assistant to the Women’s Leader and shall perform her duties in her absence.

(k) Leader of the Young GENERATION

The Leader of the Young GENERATION shall organize and coordinate the affairs of the Youth of voting age in Sierra LEONE and educate them on party organization designed to render invaluable service to the nation and shall liaise with the National Organising Secretary.

(1) Secretary-General, Young Generation

He/she shall assist the Leader of the Young GENERATION in his duties. He/she shall summon all meetings of the Young Generation, keep records of proceedings at the meetings and conduct correspondence.

(m) Publicity Secretary

He/she shall publicise and educate the public on the philosophy, programmes and activities of the Party and shall liaise with the Mass Media on all press matters affecting the Party.

(n) Legal Adviser(s)

The Legal Adviser(s) shall be the Chief Legal Adviser(s) to the Party in all legal matters and shall arrange for the conduct of any legal proceedings in which the party or its members may become involved on party matters.

(o) The Internal Auditor

He/she shall audit all FINANCIAL matters of the Party and prepare an annual audited report for national and branch accounts for the Party Conference.

(p) Imam and Chaplain

They shall be responsible for the religious life and practice of the Party.

(q) Trustees

There shall be eight (8) trustees two (2) per region, who shall be responsible for keeping custody of assets and fortunes. They shall also be responsible for conflict resolution.

CLAUSE 6

NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

(a) The National Executive Council shall be responsible for ensuring that party candidate(s) is (are) chosen by each constituency to contest seats in the National Legislature and local councils both general, local and bye-elections.

(b) All such candidates shall be duly recognized as national and local council candidates of the party and shall be entitled to the support of the entire party organization.

(c) The party conference shall nominate a candidate for the Presidential elections using the simple majority system.

(d) The candidate nominated shall at future presidential elections be the Party’s Presidential Candidate with discretion to choose his/her running mate as his/her Vice President, in CONSULTATION with the National Executive Council.

(e) The National Chairman and Leader shall not vie for the post of Presidential Nominee.

(f) Any national executive member (excluding the National Chairman and Leader) can vie to become the Presidential Nominee provided he/she resigns from OFFICE not less than six months before the date for the election of Presidential Nominee.

(g) Each party candidate shall be authorized by the National Executive Council to use the emblem and slogan in election publicity materials, POSTERS and on all ballot boxes.

(h) No person shall be nominated as a party candidate for the National Legislature unless:

(i) He/she is an individual member of the party and is not a member of any organization which is in opposition to the party.

(ii) He/she agrees to accept and conform to the Constitution, Principles, Policies and Programmes of the Party and shall sign a declaration to the effect.

(iii) He/she is a citizen of Sierra LEONE

(iv) He/she is not disqualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament under the Constitution of Sierra LEONE decree and or by-law.

(v) In the EVENT that the Presidential Candidate of the Party looses the Presidential Election, both the Presidential Candidate and running mate shall become ex-officio members of the National Executive Council.

CLAUSE 7

PARTY MANIFESTO

In good time before every General Election, Bye-Election or Local Government Election, the National Executive Council shall issue a party manifesto which shall include relevant items from the programmes previously  ADOPTED by the party conference.

CLAUSE 8

PARTY FUNDS

The FUNDS of the Party shall be derived from:

(a) Membership fees and dues
(b) Proceeds of functions arranged by the Party
(c) Contributions, bequests and donations from friends and well-wishers
(d) Sales of badges, flags etc
(e) Public appeals
(f) Sales of party literature, newspaper, aid, books •
(g) Any other sources approved by the Party.

CLAUSE 9

PARTY EMBLEM AND COLOURS

The party emblem shall be a Green Palm Tree. This emblem may be used officially on shield, pennants, flags, badges, together with the initials of the Party. The Party’s colours shall be green and white.

CLAUSE 10

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

1. Amendments to the constitution of the Party or any parts thereof may be made by a majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting at the Annual Party Conference and shall come into force in accordance with the national constitution, Political Parties Act or any other enactments of the Republic of Sierra LEONE

2. All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be forwarded to the National Executive Council which shall circulate them to all regional branches of the Party at least three months in advance of the next Party Conference.

The foregoing amendments to this constitution were unanimously passed by delegates of the Sierra LEONE People’s Party assembled at the National Party Conference held at Bo, Southern Region, Republic of Sierra LEONE on Sunday February 28, 2010.

The 1995 Constitution of the Party is accordingly hereby amended.

dated April, 2010

Signed under the hand(s)

JOHN OPONJO BENJAMIN
National Chairman and Leader

JACOB JUSU SAFFA
National Secretary General.


FROM THE SLPP GERMANY PRO SECRETARIAT
PRO DIPL. -ING. SALLU A.M. SONJOR