- Quote:
-
Constitution of the Liberal Party of Canada/Parti Libéral du Canada
I) Definitions (1) the "Liberal Party of Canada" (hereafter referred to as the "Liberal Party", "the Party" and in French "Parti Libéral du Canada") shall refer to a political organisation consisting of all card-carrying members of said organisation; (2) the "Liberal Party Caucus" (hereafter referred to as the "Liberal Caucus", "the Caucus") shall refer to all members of Parliament supported by the Party; and this may be specified per House of Parliament; (3) the "Liberal Party Frontbench" (hereafter referred to as the "Frontbench") shall refer to all those members of the Caucus who have been appointed as spokespersons of the Party; (4) the "Liberal Party Leadership" (hereafter referred to as the "Leadership") shall refer to the Leader of the Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, Liberal Party House Leader and Liberal Chief Whip;
II) Leadership 1. (a) Final executive authority on matters not specified in this Constitution shall be vested in the Leader of the Liberal Party (hereonafter referred to as Leader); 1. (b) In such a moment wherein the Leader is unavailable, all executive authority vested in the Leader shall instead be exercised temporarily by the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (hereonafter referred to as Deputy Leader); 2. (a) The Leader shall have the authority to appoint members of the Caucus as spokespersons of the Party; 2. (b) Appointment of such spokespersons shall, for the purposes of this Constitution, also include recommendations to serve as Ministers of the Crown; 2. [c] Such spokespersons shall include the Deputy Leader, Party House Leader, and Chief Whip; 2. (d) Spokespersons of the Party shall, from time to time, decide the policy of the Party; 2. (e) The Leader shall hold the authority to remove spokespersons of the Party with good cause; 2. (f) The Leader shall hold the authority to further define the roles of the spokespersons of the Party;
III) Membership of the Caucus 1. Any members of Parliament elected in a federal election or by-election after selection as an official candidate by a Liberal Riding Association shall, immediately after the conclusion of said election, be considered members of the Caucus; 2. (a) Any members of Parliament elected in a federal election or by-election after selection as an official candidate by another party shall be able to apply for admission to the Caucus; 2. (b) Such an application for admission shall require the approval of at least 3 of the 4 members of the Party Leadership and a simple majority of the Caucus before it is accepted; 3. (a) Membership of the Caucus may cease because of disciplinary action; 3. (b) Membership of the Caucus may be resigned voluntarily;
IV) Selection of the Leader 1. In order to select a Leader, there shall be called a special Party Leadership Convention; 2. All those members of the Party wishing to run for the position of Party Leader shall submit their names in writing to the Party Executive 48 hours after the selection procedures have been initiated; 3. (a) A number of delegates to the Party Leadership Convention set for each Convention by the Party Executive shall be selected by each Riding Association; 3. (b) All Members of the Liberal Party Caucus shall be considered Delegates to a Party Leadership Convention; 3. [c] In addition, such members as the Party Executive may designate for past services to the party shall be considered Delegates to a Party Leadership Convention; 4. (a) The venue for a Party Leadership Convention shall be selected by the Party Leadership; 4. (b) If the Leadership so desires, a Party Leadership Convention may coincide with a normal Party Convention; 5. (a) A person shall be deemed elected as Leader of the Liberal Party upon receiving the support of an absolute majority of those delegates present and voting at the Convention; 5. (b) If, in any round of the voting, no candidates have achieved the required majority, all except the candidate receiving the smallest share of the votes in percentages shall progress to another round of voting; 5. [c] It is in order for candidates to withdraw from the vote if they so wish; 6. (a) During a Leadership Convention, Members of the Caucus may give addresses to the Convention endorsing one candidate or the other; 6. (b) During a Leadership Convention, Candidates for the position of Leader shall give addresses to the Convention; 7. If, either during the vote or after conclusion of the nominations procedure, only one candidate shall be standing for the position of Leader, said person shall be deemed elected by default;
V) Party Conventions 1. The Party Convention shall be the General Assembly of the Liberal Party; 2. (a) A number delegates to the Party Convention set for each Convention by the Party Executive shall be selected by each Riding Association; 2. (b) All Members of the Liberal Party Caucus shall be considered Delegates to a Party Convention; 2. [c] In addition, such members as the Party Executive may designate for past services to the party shall be considered Delegates to a Party Convention; 3. (a) The Party Convention shall have the authority to adopt motions expressing its sense in matters of Party policy; 3. (b) Such motions shall be submitted on topics set prior to the Convention by the Party Leadership; 3. [c] Such motions may be submitted by any delegate to the Convention; 4. Pursuant to article VI of this Constitution, the Party Convention shall have the authority to dismiss the Leader; 5. Party Conventions shall be held annually in such venues as the Leadership may appoint for that purpose;
VI) Removal of the Leader 1. The Leader shall remain Leader for as long as he retains the confidence of the Party; 2. (a) The Leader may be removed by a majority vote of the Party Caucus; 2. (b) Such a vote shall be conducted by the Party Advisor upon the written request of any member of the Caucus, supported by 4 other members; 2. [c] The Leader may call a vote of confidence in his Leadership by the Party Caucus at any time; 3. (a) The Leader may be removed by a majority vote of the Party Convention; 3. (b) Such a review of the Leadership shall be conducted upon the written request of any delegate of the Convention, supported by at least 5% of the total number of delegates to the Convention; 3. [c] The Leader may call a review of his Leadership by the Party Convention at any time; 4. The Party Leadership, in the event of prolonged absence, illness or incapacity of the Leader, may, three of its four members concurring therein, declare the position of Party Leader vacant. Such a decision shall only take place after consultation with spokespersons, members of the Caucus and the Party Executive; 5. (a) In the event of a vacancy in the position of Party Leader, the position shall be assumed ad interim by the Deputy Leader; 5. (b) In the event of a vacancy in the position of Party Leader being filled by an Interim Leader, the Interim Leader shall immediately schedule a Leadership Convention in no less than 3 months;
VII) Discipline 1. The Leader and Chief Whip shall have the sole power as to what disciplinary action shall be taken against members of the Caucus; 2. The Leader shall have the sole power as to what disciplinary action shall be taken against the Chief Whip; 3. Members shall only be expelled from the Caucus with the unanimous consent of the Party Leadership or the majority agreement of the Caucus; 4. The Leader shall only be removed pursuant to Article VI of this Constitution;
VIII) General Provisions 1. This Party Constitution shall not apply retroactively with regards to the selection of the present Leader or the admission of the present members of the Caucus; 2. This Party Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Convention as proposed by the Leadership or a majority of the Caucus.
|