Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter One
Party principles and Party structure
Article (1): party objectives
Article (2): party headquarters
Article (3): party principles
Article (4): Party structure
Article (1): party objectives
The NDP is a public party. It works in a framework of constitutional legitimacy for building Egyptian citizens, organising their efforts and securing their freedom and welfare in an atmosphere of social peace, national unity, social justice and supremacy of law. The NDP strives to win the trust of the electorate to win a majority in general elections with the aim of achieving its objectives and putting its political programs into action.
Article (2): party headquarters
Cairo is the venue of the main headquarters of the party. The party has other headquarters in governorate capitals, centres and villages. It is also entitled to establishing other branches for its headquarters upon a decision by the General Secretariat.
Article (3): party principles
The NDP basic principles' document is the intellectual framework for the party. This document is endorsed by the party general conference. All party units are committed to work within the limits of this document.
Article (4): Party structure
The party's General Secretariat draws up the necessary rules and measures for putting this Party structure into action. These principles become functional immediately after the Party's Chairman endorses them. At this moment they come to be called "Work Methods". At the same time, the General Secretariat designs the organisational structure of the party including the responsibilities, status and mandates of the various party units. This organisational structure becomes functional after the Chairman of the Party endorses it. The organisational structure remains in action so long as it does not contradict with the party's basic principles. Who we are: structure; Party structure
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Two: party organisational structure
1- party general structure and organisational principles
Article (5): organisational levels
Article (6): organisational levels' management
Article (7): responsibilities of the organisational levels
Article (8): mandate of the higher organisational level
Article (9): committee change mandates
Article (10): party conference
Article (11): party elections
Article (12): organisational level membership
Article (13): voting systems in party meetings
Article (5): organisational levels
The organisational structure of the party consists of the following levels from bottom to top:
1- Party Unity level.
2- Centre unit.
3- Central level and this consists of the General Secretariat and the Political Bureau.
Article (6): organisational levels' management
The Party Unit Committee is responsible for unit affairs. Each of the committees at the various governorates, centres is responsible for party affairs in its realm of mandate. The General Secretariat and the Political Bureau are responsible for the central level. All these party units and committees are referred to as "Organisational Levels". The other party offices are referred to as "Party Formations".
Article (7): responsibilities of the organisational levels
Each of the organisational levels of the party seek to do the following:
1- Inviting the public to the party and its political programs.
2- Promoting and increasing party membership.
3- Studying the problems of the public to propose solutions for them.
4- Drawing up the party activity plan on the organisational level and referring regular reports about them to the higher level.
5- Supporting party candidates in general elections.
6- Making citizens aware of the importance of being registered in voter rolls and facilitating this for them.
7- Encouraging the participation of women and youth in party activities and spurring them to be party members.
8- Preparing the party's organisational level budget and seeking funds for it.
9- Putting the decisions of the general conferences, annual congress, and organisational levels into action.
Article (8): mandate of the higher organisational level
Each of the organisational levels is authorised to supervise the work of inferior organisational levels to see whether their membership is on the increase. At the same time, each of these organisational levels acts as a middle link referring the suggestions of an inferior level to a superior level. They also inform inferior levels about the directives of the superior levels. A superior level also has the right to ask an inferior level to reconsider its decisions when it deems them in contradiction with the Party structure or the programs of the party. If the inferior level does not respond positively to the demands of the superior level within two weeks, the latter has the right to decide on the issue itself while its decisions would be considered binding.
Article (9): committee change mandates
For an organisational level that decides on the members of the inferior organisational level the right to change these members at the time it reckons fit for the interests of the party. The General Secretariat has the right to reform a party committee, a unit or an office, if there is an urgent need for that, while its decision in this regard has to be presented to the following general conference.
The Chairman of the Party has the right to reform the Political Bureau or the General Secretariat, but its decisions in this regard have to be presented to the following general conference or annual congress. The Chairman of the Party also has the right to change the members he chooses for a certain organisational level or party unit at the time he reckons fit.
Article (10): party conferences
The general conference of the party is held every five years upon a decision by the Chairman of the Party. The annual congress of the party is held every year upon a decision by the Party Chairman also.
However, both the general conference and the annual congress must be held in the month of September. The electoral conferences of the party units, centres, governorates would be held during the year of the general conference upon a decision by the Party Chairman in a way that allows for the formations of these party units, centres, governorates and to be complete 30 days before the general conference is held. The annual conferences of these units are held during the first quarter of each year upon a decision by the General Secretariat except on the year when the general conference would be held. In any case, the Party Chairman has the right to call for an emergency general conference or annual congress at any time if necessary. The decision to hold an emergency conference or annual congress must also show whether deliberations in the conference mean to re-elect the Party Chairman or reform any of the organisational levels of the party.
Article (11): party elections
Party elections are held every five years. The Chairman of the Party has the right to call for holding elections for one or more organisational level at the time it sees fit. The elections happen through secret and direct balloting. The representation of labourers and farmers in party unit elections must not be less than 50 per cent. The importance of the participation of women and youth in the elections of party organisational levels must also be taken into account.
Article (12): organisational level membership
A party member is not entitled to more than one seat in the organisational levels except through a decision by the General Secretariat. If a member loses the conditions for membership in an organisational level they consequently lose the membership itself.
Article (13): voting systems in party meetings
Decisions in the meetings of the organisational levels and party units are majority ones. If votes for a certain decision are equal with votes against it the opinion of the camp to which the chairman of the meeting belongs would be taken.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Two :: party organisational structure
2- Party units
Article (14): forming and dissolving party units
Article (15): Party unit conferences
Article (16): Party Unit Committee
Article (14): forming and dissolving party units
Public participation in party activities takes place in the framework any party unit membership. A party unit consists of members from the area where the unit exists. The unit must contain a minimum of 200 members. A decision to form, dissolve or absolve a party unit from the 200-people membership condition comes from the General Secretariat upon a proposal by the secretary of the centre or the governorate of the unit. Work Methods should be taken into account when forming or dissolving party units.
Article (15) Party unit conference
The electoral or annual conference of a party unit must be attended by unit members to do the following jobs: 1- Electing members of the party unit committee in the light of article No 16 of the Party structure.
2- Endorsing and supervising the party plan in the unit and its budget.
3- Promoting membership in the unit.
4- Discussing the reports of the party unit.
5- Studying the problems of the public to suggest solutions for them. The conference of the unit is supposed to be headed by the secretary of the unit or the assistant secretary in case the secretary is not there. For a party unit conference to be held 30 per cent of the members of the unit must attend it. These members must also meet three times after the curtain is pulled down on the conference to see whether the decisions of the conference are put into action.
Article (16) Party Unit Committee
The party unit committee consists of 25 members the electoral conference of the unit elects 20 of them. The bureau of the governorate office chooses the remaining five members in the light of the recommendations of the governorate centres. The membership of 25 per cent of the members of the unity committee are renewed through a randomly in the annual conference that follows the formation of the committee. Secretaries of the unit committees and their assistants would be exonerated from this annual membership renewal while percentage of elected members to chosen members would remain the same. Those who lose their membership in the randomly can run for a unit membership. However, the whole unit would be reformed in the following electoral conference. The bureau of the governorate office would pick the following seven secretaries from the members of the unit committee:
1- Unit Secretary
2- Assistant Secretary for organisation affairs
3- Fund Trustee
4- Secretary of labourers
5- Secretary of farmers
6- Secretary of youth
7- Secretary of women
The party unit committee convenes once a week upon an invitation from the party unit secretary or upon directives from a superior party level. For the committee to convene 30 per cent of the unit members must attend. The meeting would be headed by the unit secretary or the assistant unit secretary in case the secretary is not there.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Two :: party organisational structure
3- Centres
Article (17): electoral conference of the centres
Article (18): annual conference of the centres
Article (19): agenda of the conference of the centres
Article (20): committees of the centres
Article (21): bureau of the offices of the centres
Article (17): electoral conference of the centres
The electoral conference of centres consists of:
1- The seven members getting the biggest number of votes in the electoral conference of each centre party unit. In case the committee is formed through recommendation seven of the members of the committee would be chosen through a randomly.
2- Members of the municipal council of the centres who are party members.
3- Members of the governorate's municipal council for the centres who are party members.
4- People's Assembly and Shura Council members for the centres station who are members of the party.
In case there is not any administrative divisions in a given city, this city is supposed to be dealt with as a centre. For the conference to be held 50 per cent of the members of the unit must attend it.
Article (18): annual conference of the centres
The annual conference of the centres is held upon an invitation from the secretary of the centres. It is supposed to consist of the following cadres:
1- Chosen and elected members of the committees of the centres.
2- Secretaries of the party units and the secretaries referred to in article No 16 of the Party structure.
3- The members referred to in provisions No 2, 3 and 4 in article No 17 of the Party structure.
The conference would be headed by the party secretary in the centres or the assistant party secretary in case the secretary is not there. For the conference to be held 50 per cent of the members must attend it.
Article (19): agenda of the conference of the centres
The annual conference of the centres is supposed to do the following:
1- Endorsing and supervising the application of the party plan in the centres and endorsing the budget of this plan. 2- Discussing the reports and recommendations of the committees of the centres.
3- Supervising the activities of the party units in the centres to see whether their membership is growing.
The electoral conference of the centres, besides, elects the members of the committees of the centres in the light of the Work Methods.
Article (20): committees of the centres
Party affairs in the centre are managed by a committee that consists of the following:
1- Forty members the electoral conference of the centre elects 30 of them while the General Secretariat chooses the remaining ten members.
2- Secretaries of the party units in the centre.
3- Chairman and deputy of the municipal council who are party members.
4- Chairmen of the municipal councils of the villages that belong to the centre who are party members.
5- Members of the governorate's municipal council for the centre who are party members.
6- People's Assembly and Shura Council members for the constituency to which the centre belongs who are members of the party.
The activities of the committee are regulated by party units representation rules in the centres.
The committees of the centres convene once a month at least upon an invitation from the secretary of the centre or upon directives from a superior party level.
The committee would be headed by the secretary of the centre or the assistant secretary in case the secretary is not there. For the committee to convene 50 per cent at least of the members must attend it.
Article (21): bureau of the office of the centre
The General Secretariat picks members of the bureau of the office from the members of the committee of the centre. The bureau of the office manages the daily activities of the party. It consists of the following ten members:
1- Secretary of the centre.
2- Assistant Secretary
3- Assistant Secretary for organisation affairs.
4- Information Secretary.
5- Fund Trustee.
6- Secretary of the municipal councils.
7- Secretary of Farmers.
8- Secretary of Labourers.
9- Secretary of Youth.
10- Secretary of Women.
The bureau of the office holds a meeting once each two weeks at least upon an invitation from the secretary of the centre or upon directives from a superior party level. The meeting of the party office bureau would be headed by the secretary of the centre or the assistant secretary in case the secretary is not there. For the meeting to be held 50 per cent at least of the members must attend it.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Two :: party organisational structure
4- The governorate
Article (22): the governorate electoral conference
Article (23): annual conference of the governorate
Article (24): agenda of the governorate conference
Article (25): governorate committee
Article (26): bureau of the governorate office
Article (22): the governorate electoral conference
The governorate electoral conference consists of the following:
1- Elected and chosen members in the governorate committee.
2- Elected and chosen members in the committees of the centres and of the governorate.
3- Members of the municipal councils of the governorate who are party members.
For the conference to be held 50 per cent of the members at least must attend it.
Article (23): annual conference of the governorate
The annual conference of the governorate consists of the following:
1- Elected and chosen members in the governorate committee.
2- Elected and chosen members in the committees of the centres in the governorate.
3- The members referred to in provisions No 2 and 3 of article 22 of this system. The annual conference is held upon an invitation from the governorate. For the conference to be held 50 per cent at least of the members must attend it. Members of the conference must meet one more time at least a year.
Article (24): agenda of the governorate conference
The annual conference of the governorate does the following:
1- Endorsing and supervising the application of the party plan in the governorate and endorsing its budget.
2- Discussing the reports and the recommendations of the governorate committee.
3- Supervising the activities of the centres of the governorate.
4- Supervising the process of putting central recommendations into action.
The electoral conference of the governorate, besides, elects the required members from the governorate committee in the light of the Work Methods.
Article (25): governorate committee
Party affairs on the level of the governorate are managed by a committee that consists of:
1- Forty members the electoral conference of the governorate elects 30 of them while the General Secretariat chooses the remaining ten members. Elected members in the Cairo Governorate Committee would be 40 while the chosen members would be 15.
2- Secretaries of the centres in the governorate.
3- Members of the bureau of the office of the municipal council at the governorate who are party members.
4- People's Assembly and Shura Council members for the constituencies of the governorate who are party members.
The representation of centres in the governorate committee would be regulated by the Work Methods. The committee of the governorate would convene once a month at least upon an invitation from the secretary of the governorate or the General Secretariat. The meeting of the committee would be headed by the secretary of the governorate or the assistant secretary in case the secretary is not there. For the committee to convene 50 per cent of the members at least must attend.
Article (26): bureau of the governorate office
The General Secretariat chooses the members of the bureau of the office of the governorate from the members of the governorate committee. The bureau of the governorate office manages party daily affairs in the governorate. The bureau of the governorate office consists of the following 15 members: 1- Secretary of the governorate who is elected by the Political Bureau.
2- Assistant Secretary
3- Assistant Secretary for organisation affairs
4- Information Secretary
5- Secretary for financial and administrative affairs
6- Membership Affairs Secretary
7- Secretary of training and political education
8- Secretary of the municipal councils.
9- Secretary of Farmers.
10- Secretary of Labourers.
11- Secretary of Youth.
12- Secretary of Women
13- 15- Additional members
In the Cairo Governorate, the number of additional members can reach 15. A meeting of the bureau of the office of the governorate takes place once each two weeks at least upon an invitation from the secretary of the governorate or upon an invitation from the General Secretariat. The meeting is headed by the governorate secretary or the assistant secretary in case the secretary is not there. For the meeting to be held 50 per cent of the members at least must attend it.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Two :: party organisational structure
5- The central level
Article (27): annual congress of the party
Article (28): agenda of the annual congress
Article (29): the general conference
Article (30): the general conference and the annual congress
Article (31): electing the Party Chairman
Article (32): responsibilities of the Party Chairman
Article (33): party vice chairmen
Article (34): the political bureau
Article (35): responsibilities of the political bureau
Article (36): formation of the General Secretariat
Article (37): responsibilities of the General Secretariat
Article (38): electing the Secretary General
Article (39): responsibilities of the Secretary General
Article (40): bureau of the office of the General Secretariat
Article (41): responsibilities of the bureau of the office of the General Secretariat
Article (27): annual congress of the party
The annual congress of the party consists of:
1- Members of the Political Bureau
2- Members of the General Secretariat
3- People's Assembly and Shura Council members who are party members.
4- Members of the central secretariats
5- Members of the Supreme Policies Council
6- Members of the bureaus of the offices of the governorates
7- Secretaries of the centres and the assistant secretaries and the assistant secretaries for organisation affair
8- Five per cent of the secretaries of the party units in each governorate. They would be chosen in the light of the Work Methods.
Article (28): agenda of the annual congress
The annual congress of the party does the following:
1- supervising the application of the annual plan of the party.
2- Discussing and endorsing the annual plan of the party and its final budget.
3- Discussing the general policies the party receives in the light of the Work Methods.
4- Amending the Party structure of the party in the light of the proposals of the Political Bureau. The articles from 1 to 10 and articles 15, 19, 24 would be exceptional to any amendment. Articles from 28 to 35 and articles 37, 39, 57, 62, 63 and 76 would be exceptional as well. All the previously mentioned articles would be amended upon the recommendations of the general conference only.
5- Endorsing the changes the Chairman of the Party makes to the membership of the General Secretariat.
6- Discussing the reports and studies presented to the congress.
7- Discussing the other issues the Chairman of the Party adds to the agenda of the congress.
Article (29): the general conference
The general conference of the party consists of the members of the annual congress. It also consists of the members of the elected and chosen governorate committees and members of the bureaus of the offices of the centres. The representation of governorate party units' secretaries increases to 15 per cent. The general conference has the same agenda of the annual congress in addition to the following:
1- Electing the Chairman of the Party
2- Voting to choose the required members of the Political Bureau in the light of the recommendations of the Party Chairman.
3- Voting to choose the required number of General Secretariat members in the light of the recommendations of the Political Bureau
4- Amending the articles of the Party structure of the party and its basic principles in the light of the requirements of party work
Article (30): the general conference and the annual congress
Both the general conference and the annual congress are held upon an invitation from the Chairman of the Party and under his chairmanship.
For the general conference and the annual congress to be held 40 per cent of their members at least must attend them. Organisation procedures and the agendas are regulated by Work Methods.
Article (31): electing the party chairman
The Chairman of the Party is elected through direct balloting. A special committee is formed upon a decision by the Political Bureau two weeks before the general conference is held to supervise the election of the Chairman of the Party. This committee consists of the following five members who are not running to the party top spot:
1- The oldest of the party vice chairmen to head the committee
2- The oldest of the members of the Political Bureau who is not running to the post of Party Chairman
3- Chairman of the Secretariat of Legal Affairs or the oldest of the members of the secretariat if the Chairman of the Secretariat is running to the post of Party Chairman
4- Two former members of the Judicial Authority who are party members In case there is not a party vice chairman or all party vice chairmen are running for the post of Party Chairman, the oldest of the members of the Political Bureau heads the committee. The younger Political Bureau member, who is not running to the party's top spot, would become a member of this committee. The committee receives applications of the contenders for the party chairmanship to ensure that all applicants meet the conditions necessary for the post. The committee also supervises the electoral process from the beginning, vote counting and declaring the results of the elections.
The Party Chairman must meet the following criteria:
1- To be Egyptian with Egyptian parents
2- He must not be less than 40 years old
3- To have been a party member for five years at least preserving all membership requirements
4- To get the signatures of not less than 20 per cent of the members of the general conference
The Chairman of the Party is elected in a special session at the inauguration of the general conference. The session is headed by the chairman of the supervising committee who proclaims the Chairman of the Party. In case none of the candidates for the party's top spot gets a majority of votes a rerun takes place in the same session between the two contenders who get the biggest number of votes. In case one of the candidates only changes its mind before entering the rerun the other candidate must get the approval of 50 per cent of the members to become Party Chairman. Otherwise, the election would be held again from the very beginning according to the rules of this system. The Chairman of the Party heads the general conference once this election session ends. The term for the Chairman of the Party is five years. A Chairman of the Party can be re-elected more than one time. In case the position of Party Chairman is empty for one reason or another the oldest of the deputy chairmen, if he is not going to run for the top spot, or the oldest of the members of the Political Bureau becomes party chairman temporarily. The acting party chairman invites members to hold an exceptional general conference to elect a new party chairman within a period of three months.
Article (32): responsibilities of the Party Chairman The Chairman of the Party is entitled with the mandate of supervising and leading all party formations and organisational levels and heads any party meeting he attends. In addition to all this, the Chairman of the Party is authorised to do the following:
1- Elect the Secretary General
2- Pick the assistant secretary generals from the General Secretariat and define their responsibilities
3- Add members to the General Secretariat in the light of article
(36) of this system
4- Choose members of the bureau of the office of the General Secretariat from the General Secretariat of the party
5- Reform the Political Bureau and the General Secretariat. The decision of the Party Chairman in this regard is supposed to be presented to the following general conference or annual congress
6- Choose the secretaries of the central secretariats from the General Secretariat
7- Choose the representatives of the Parliamentary Bureau in the People's Assembly and the Shura Council
8- Choose the Chairman and members of the Secretariat of values and Legal Affairs
9- Invite the general conference and the annual congress to convene
10- Elect the eight members of the Political Bureau which the general conference endorses
11- Invite the Political Bureau to convene
12- Endorse the organisational structure and work methods laid by the General Secretariat
Article (33): party vice chairmen
The Chairman of the Party is authorised to choose a vice chairman and define his responsibilities.
Article (34): the political bureau
The Political Bureau of the party consists of the Party Chairman and the following members:
1- Party vice chairmen
2- The Prime Minister if he is a party member
3- The People's Assembly Speaker and the Chairman of the Shura Council if they are party members
4- The Secretary General of the Party
5- Other eight members the general conference endorses in the light of the recommendations of the Party Chairman The Political Bureau convenes twice a year at least upon an invitation from the Party Chairman to be headed by the Chairman himself.
Article (35): responsibilities of the political bureau The Political Bureau does the following:
1- Elects the required number of the members of the General Secretariat
2- Chooses the party secretaries in the governorates
3- Chooses the candidates of the party in the parliamentary elections, municipal council elections in the light of the recommendations of the General Secretariat and according to the Work Methods
4- Sketches out the general policies
5- Endorses the general policies the Policies Committee refers to it and the General Secretariat endorses
6- Endorses the general program of the party, which the Policies Committee prepares and the General Secretariat endorses
7- Supervises the application of the decisions of the general conference and the annual congresses
Article (36): formation of the General Secretariat
The General Secretariat consists of the following:
1- Twenty five members who are chosen by the general conference in the light of the recommendations of the Political Bureau
2- Not more than 15 other members to be chosen by the Party Chairman. The Secretary General of the Party is elected in the light of article
(38) of this system. The Party Chairman chooses the assistant secretary generals from the General Secretariat and defines their responsibilities. The General Secretariat convenes once each month at least upon an invitation by the Party Chairman to be headed by the Party Chairman himself. It also convenes whenever the Chairman of the Party sees fit. The Prime Minister, if he is a party member, has the right to attend the meetings of the General Secretariat.
Article (37): responsibilities of the General Secretariat
The General Secretariat is responsible for drawing up the organisational structure of the party and work methods to put this system into action. These things are considered functional once the Party Chairman endorses them. The General Secretariat also does the following:
1- Supervises all party activities
2- Puts the decisions of the Chairman of the Party, the Chairman of the Political Bureau, the decisions of the general conference and the decisions of the annual congress into action
3- Chooses the required number from the members of the centres and governorate committees
4- Forms the bureaus of the offices of the centres and the governorates
5- Leads the activities of the bureaus of the offices of the governorates
6- Picks the members of the central secretariats from the party members
7- Supervises the activities of the general secretariats
8- Endorses the general policies of the party and refers them to the Political Bureau in the light of the Work Methods
9- Endorses the program of the party and refers it to the Political Bureau
10- Suggests the candidates of the party in the parliamentary elections and for the posts of municipal chairmen and then refers the names to the Political Bureau in the light of the Work Methods
11- Chooses the candidates of the party in the municipal council elections
12- endorses the annual budget of the part and then refers it to the general conference or the annual congress
13- chooses the members of the Supreme Policies Council
Article (38): electing the Secretary General
The Chairman of the Party chooses one of the party members to elect for the post of Party Secretary General. He then refers the name of the candidate for this post to the General Secretariat. This person must win the approval of the majority of the General Secretariat members to take over. Otherwise, the Party Chairman chooses another person for the post. The Party Chairman also has the right to ask the Secretary General to leave his post. The new Secretary General has to pass through all the previously mentioned procedures.
Article (39): responsibilities of the Secretary General
The Secretary General manages all the daily activities of the party including the following:
1- Supervising the application of the directives of the Party Chairman and the Political Bureau
2- Supervising the work of the Secretaries of the central secretariats and the governorate secretaries
3- General supervision of administrative and financial affairs
4- Drawing up applicable work methods putting in to mind the responsibilities of the General Secretariat in this regard and the need for a Party Chairman endorsement before the decisions are put into action
5- Issuing decisions relating to the formations of the bureaus of the offices of the party in the various centres and governorates
Article (40): bureau of the office of the General Secretariat
The General Secretariat has an office bureau to be headed by the Secretary General. This bureau contains the assistant secretary-generals, and a number of the members of the General Secretariat as members. The bureau supervises the daily party activities.
Article (41): responsibilities of the bureau of the office of the General Secretariat
The bureau of the office of the General Secretariat does the following jobs:
1- Supervises daily party activities on all party levels
2- Refers monthly reports to the Party Chairman
3- Prepares for the convening of the monthly meeting of the General Secretariat and deciding its agenda
4- Prepares for the general conference or the annual congress of the party
5- Chooses members of the bureaus of the offices of the central secretariats
6- Choosing the chairman and the members of the specialised policies committees
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter three :: Central secretariats
1- General Rules
Article (42): the central secretariats
Article (43): formation of the central secretariats
Article (44): coordination among the central secretariats
Article (42): the central secretariats
1- Organisation Committee
2- Policies Committee
3- Information Committee
4- Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee
5- Training and Education Committee
6- Membership Committee
7- Farmers Committee
8- Labourers Committee
9- Women Committee
10- Youth Committee
11- Professionals Committee
12- Public Enterprise Committee
The Party Chairman and the Political Bureau form a Values and Legal Affairs Committee in the light of the proposals of the General Secretariat. They also form other central committees and define their responsibilities.
Article (43): formation of the central committees (Organisational framework)
Each of the central committees consists of a number of members that is not less than seven or more than 15. The Chairman of the Party picks the chairmen of the central committees from the General Secretariat. The General Secretariat then chooses the members of the central committees in the light of the recommendations of the chairmen of the committees. Each of the central committees has a bureau of an office that is headed by the chairman of the central committee. The members of the bureau come also from the secretariat itself. These members would not be less than six and would not exceed nine. A decision for forming the bureau of the office of the secretariat is taken by the General Secretariat in the light of the recommendations of the secretary of the central secretariat.
Article (44): coordination among the central committees
The Secretary General is authorised to coordinate the activities of the central committees and supervise their work. The General Secretariat supervises the application of the plan of each of the committees. The General Secretariat presents its activities in this regard to the annual congress.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter three :: Central committees
2- Responsibilities of the central committees
Article (45): Organisation Committee
Article (46): Policies Committee
Article (47): Information Committee
Article (48): Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee
Article (49): Training and Political Education Committee
Article (50): Membership Committee
Article (51): Farmers Committee
Article (52): Labourers Committee
Article (53): Women Committee
Article (54): Youth Committee
Article (55): Professionals Committee
Article (56): Public Enterprise Committee
Article (57): Values and Legal Affairs Committee
Article (45): Organisation Committee (Organisational structure)
The Organisation Committee is responsible for all organisational matters that relate to the party. It is also responsible for supervising the party units, the committees and the bureaus of the offices of centres and governorates. The Organisation Committee is also responsible for establishing a database of the organisational cadres and plans for future rise of these cadres. The Organisation Committee also makes a daily supervision of the performance of the Chairmen of the governorate committees and the work of the Parliamentary Committee. It coordinates the activities of the General Secretariat and the Party Parliamentary Bureau, supervises the choice of party candidates for the parliamentary elections and the municipal councils and the choice of the members of the committees and the bureaus of the offices of the party on the governorate level. The Organisation Committee levels its recommendations in relation to the performance of party levels to the General Secretariat for it to take the necessary decisions.
Article (46): Policies Committee (Organisational structure)
The Policies Committee is responsible for preparing the general policies of the party and its general programs for them to be referred to the General Secretariat for primary endorsement and then to the Political Bureau for final endorsement. It is also responsible for preparing the other documents defined in the Work Methods and distributes them.
The Supreme Policies Council
The Supreme Policies Council is an affiliate body of the Policies Committee being headed by the Chairman of the Policies Committee. The Council consists of 200 of the members of the party at most spanning various specialisations. The members of the council are appointed as such upon a decision by the General Secretariat in the light of the recommendations of the Chairman of the Policies Committee. The Council is responsible for making a detailed study of the issues referred to the Policies Committee and then makes its recommendations about them. The Council can refer these issues to specialised policies committees to make a study of the technical aspects in them.
Specialised policies committees
Each of the specialised policies committees consists of 100 members at most. They are appointed as such as well as the chairman of the committee upon a decision by the General Secretariat in the light of the recommendations of the Chairman of the Policies Committee. Theses committees are formed regularly and so are the frameworks of their activities in the light of the priorities of the party. However, committees that are specialised in issues of a continual nature would remain to work as they are without a change according to the Work Methods.
Work groups in the governorates
The Policies Committee refers the issues it reckons necessary to the governorates committees. The committees then level their recommendations about these issues to the Policies Committee again. A governorate committee is authorised to form a work team to study the issue referred to it by the policies committee. The work team has to level its recommendations about the issue in the period of time specified for that end. It then levels the recommendations to the Governorate Secretary who refers them to the Policies Committee.
Article (47): Information Committee (Organisational structure)
The Information Committee is responsible for explaining party norms, programs and objectives to the public in a way that increases party membership. The Information Committee also makes a regular survey of the extent to which party programs have responded positively to the demands of the different classes of society. The committee is also responsible for everything that is related to communication between the party and the public. It also supervises all the magazines, newspapers and publications of the party.
Article (48): Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee (Organisational structure)
The Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee is responsible for all financial and administrative affairs in the party. It is also responsible for managing party money and receiving its revenues and managing expenditure. It is particularly responsible for the following jobs:
1- Supervising all levels of the financial and administrative apparatus of the party
2- Supervising the training of the workers at the financial and administrative apparatus of the party
3- Supervising the information systems at the party to advance them
4- Supervising the documentation of party papers and publications
5- Making the general budget of the party and the financial plan each three years and then presenting it to the General Secretariat
6- Supervising the revenues of the party from membership fees and donations
7- Managing the investment of party money
Article (49): Training and Political Education Committee (Organisational structure)
The Training and Political Education Committee is responsible for spreading political awareness and understanding of the problems of society and the attitude of the party towards them among the members of the party particularly the youth. The committee does that through a number of conference and training courses. Publications are also used to reach that end.
Article (50): Membership Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is responsible for all membership affairs. It is also responsible for increasing the party membership through attracting good elements. It makes databases containing all the necessary information about the members and freshens them from time to time to know membership trends. This committee also supervises the application of the annual membership plan of the party.
Article (51): Farmers Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with the affairs of the farmers and their issues. It is responsible for sketching out the agricultural plans of the party. It also seeks to increase farmers' membership in the party. At the same time, the committee backs the candidates of the party in the elections of the agricultural societies and the parliamentary and municipal council elections. One of the other jobs of the committee is also to supervise the performance of the farmers' secretaries in centres and governorates and level reports about them to the General Assembly.
Article (52): Labourers Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with the affairs of the labourers and their rights. It is responsible for sketching out the plans relating to that. It also seeks to increase labourers' membership in the party. At the same time, the committee backs the candidates of the party in the elections of the syndicates and the parliamentary and municipal council elections. One of the other jobs of the committee is also to supervise the performance of the labourers' secretaries in centres and governorates and level reports about them to the General Assembly.
Article (53): Women Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with the issues of women and their rights. It is responsible for framing plans to increase women membership in the party. The committee also strives to urge women to register in voter lists and take part in political activities. The committee backs the candidates of the party in the parliamentary and municipal council elections. One of the other jobs of the committee is also to supervise the performance of the women's secretaries in centres and governorates and level reports about them to the General Assembly.
Article (54): Youth Committee (organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with devising the party's youth policies and increasing their membership in a way that opens the door for more youth participation in the activities of the party. The committee also seeks to urge youth to support the candidates of the party in the parliamentary and municipal council elections. The committee educates youth about the norms of the party and prods them to be involved in political activities through legal channels. One of the other jobs of the committee is also to supervise the performance of the youth secretaries in centres and governorates and level reports about them to the General Assembly.
Article (55): Professionals Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with the issues of professionals of all professions. It frames plans to increase professionals' membership in the party. The committee backs the candidates of the party in the professional syndicates. Article (56): Public Enterprise Committee (Organisational structure)
This committee is concerned with studying the issues that are of interest to investors in all fields encouraging them to take part in party activities. It also seeks to garner the support of the members of the business sector for the candidates of the party in the parliamentary and municipal council elections. It also seeks to forge more cooperation with the business community explaining the importance of the private sector in development. Article (57): Values and Legal Affairs Committee (Organisational structure)
The Values and Legal Affairs Committee falls under the supervision of the Chairman of the Party himself. The Party Chairman issues the decision of forming the committee himself while one of the members of the General Secretariat with legal expertise becomes its chairman. The committee includes a number of legal experts who are members of the party. The committee sketches out keynotes regulating relations between the party and its members. It also opines on cases when membership of some members is revoked or rejected. The committee provides counselling to the Chairman of the Party and General Assembly on the party system.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Four :: Membership
1- Membership
Article (58): membership conditions
Article (59): membership application procedures
Article (60): two types of membership
Article (61): membership fees
Article (62): transferral of membership
Article (58): membership conditions
The membership of the party is for individuals. A member must meet the following criteria:
To be Egyptian
To believe in the norms of the party
Not to be a members of another party
To be 18 years old at application
To have a clean criminal record
To be registered in election lists
Article (59): membership application procedures
Individuals who want to be members of the party have to fill in a membership application form and present it in person to the local party office. An application can not be presented at more than one party office. The bureau of the local party office decides whether to accept the membership of the applicant or not. The applicant is informed about the decision of the bureau within one month of applying.
Article (60): two types of membership
A party member can either be a full-fledged member or an organising member. Full-fledged members are those who meet the criteria in article 58 of the basic system. Organising members are those who are members of any of the organisational levels of the party. Work Methods stipulate the rights and the duties of the members. A member can not claim any rights before spending six months as a party member.
Article (61): membership fees
Each member has to pay the fees stipulated in the financial bylaw of the party. A member can not pay membership fees on behalf of another member. Members pay the fees at the local party office. The financial bylaw determines how the revenues from the fees would be used.
Article (62): transferral of membership
Full-fledged members can transfer their membership to another party office after submitting a letter to this effect to the party secretary at that office. The secretary of the office levels the demand to the bureau of the party governorate office to decide on it.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Four :: Membership
2- Party accountability
Article (63): membership revocation
Article (64): complaint
Article (65): decision of the Committee of Values and Legal Affairs
Article (66): resignation
Article (63): membership revocation
The General Secretariat has the right to revoke the membership of any of the members upon a demand by the bureau of the office of the centre governorate for one of the following reasons:
1- If the member loses one of the qualifications for membership
2- If a member supports the candidates of another party
3- If the member does anything that is harmful to the party The membership of a member is revoked upon the decision of the bureau of the office of the centre if this member abstained from paying membership fees for two consecutive years.
Article (64): complaint
Members with revoked membership can submit a complaint to the General Secretariat against this decision during the first month of revocation. The General Secretariat can ask counselling from the Committee of Values and Legal Affairs. The membership of this member is considered frozen until the Committee of Values and Legal Affairs decides on the issue.
Article (65): decision of the Committee of Values and Legal Affairs
The Committee of Values and Legal Affairs gives a point of view about the revocation of the membership of party members. It can recommend any of the following measures:
1- Reprimanding the member
2- Depriving the member of organisational positions for not more than one year
3- Freezing the membership for not more than one year
4- Revoking the membership
Members are notified immediately about the decision of the General Secretariat in this regard. The decision is considered binding once the member learns about it.
Article (66): resignation
A member can resign after notifying the secretary of the local party office. The membership is automatically revoked upon resignation.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter five
Running in election, parliamentary bureau and Parliamentary Committee
Article (67): running in election
Article (68): Parliamentary bureau
Article (69): responsibilities of the Parliamentary Bureau
Article (70): Parliamentary Committee
Article (71): responsibilities of the Parliamentary Committee
Article (67): running in election
Work Methods stipulate the conditions upon which the candidates of the party are chosen to run in the general elections and the rules for the participation of the various organisational levels. A party member can not run in the elections if he has not been chosen for that. Otherwise, this member would be brought to account.
Article (68): Parliamentary bureau
Members of the party who are members of the People's Assembly and the Shura Council constitute the Parliamentary bureau. The bureau convenes upon the invitation of the Party Chairman three times a year at least. The Chairman of the Party presides over the meetings of the bureau.
Article (69): responsibilities of the Parliamentary bureau The Parliamentary bureau has the following responsibilities:
1- Explaining the point of view of the party when debating laws in parliament
2- Studying the political statement of the government and arguing it
3- Choosing the speakers on behalf of the party in parliament
4- Voting in parliament for the decisions that best serve the party
5- Putting the program of the party into action through legislation
Article (70): Parliamentary Committee
The Chairman of the Party issues a decision for forming the Parliamentary bureau at the outset of the parliamentary session. The bureau consists of:
1- Members of the bureau of the office of the General Secretariat
2- Minister of parliamentary Affairs if he is an MP
3- Chairman of the Organisation Committee
4- Chairman of the Policies Committee
5- Representative of the Parliamentary Bureau at the People's Assembly and the Shura Council
6- Communication officers in the governorates
7- A number of party members
The Prime Minister has the right to attend the meetings of the Parliamentary Committee were he a party member. In this case he presides over the meetings.
Article (71): responsibilities of the Parliamentary Committee
The Parliamentary Committee coordinates the positions of the government, the party and the Parliamentary Bureau. The committee also sketches out the plan of the legislation that would be proposed to parliament.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter Six
Financial and administrative affairs
Article (72): annual budged
Article (73): financial and administrative bylaws
Article (74): administrative responsibilities
Article (75): party money
Article (76): reviewing the accounts
Article (72): annual budged
The party has an annual budget that starts in January.
Article (73): financial and administrative bylaws
The party has financial and administrative bylaws the General Secretariat sketches out in the light of the proposals of the Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee. The financial bylaws must define the membership fees and rules for accepting donations for the party and the way these donations are distributed between the organisational levels.
Article (74): administrative responsibilities
The Secretary General is the highest administrative authority in the party.
Article (75): party money
The party money is deposited in the form of one account or more in the Bank of Cairo. The General Secretariat has the right to transfer the money to another bank.
Article (76): reviewing the accounts
The budget of the party is reviewed by a supervising accountant. The accountant is appointed and paid by the General Secretariat.
Who we are: structure; Party structure :: Chapter seven
Party dissolution and merger
Article (77): party dissolution
Article (78): where party money goes
Article (79): dissolution procedures
Article (77): party dissolution
The party can be dissolved or merged in another party if a consensus is reached about this by two thirds of the attendants of the party conference. The proposal about either of these two options is done by the General Secretariat after getting the approval of the Party Chairman.
Article (78): where party money goes
In case of a merger, the party money goes directly to the new entity in the light of the conditions stipulated in the decision for this.
Article (79): dissolution procedures
The dissolution decision must contain a provision for appointing an official to be in charge of the dissolution process. Where would the party money go after the dissolution is determined by the Political Parties Law.