DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union 1. Constitution a. We the founders of this political party do hereby swear that this constitution comprises the sole cumulative statutes of incorporation and articles of establishment of this voluntary association of natural persons; and that all activities of this voluntary association of natural persons shall be governed and mandated by this constitution b. We the founders of this political party hereby constitute this voluntary association of natural persons as a political party within the provisions of the Constitutive Deed of the Africa Union; and consistent with and obedient to all laws which are consistent with or subsidiary to the constitutive deed of the Africa Union c. We the founders of this political party hereby agree to register this political party in terms of and abide by the provisions of all legislation pertaining to the conduct of elections and electoral activities in all member states of the Africa Union, and all subsequent amendments thereto d. We the founders of this political parties hereby agree that this constitution may be amended, repealed and replaced or changed and/or varied in any way, shape, manner and/or form by a resolution to such effect endorsed by two-thirds of the voting delegates of the highest decision making body of this political party e. We the founders of this political party hereby delegate to this constitution the power and authority to set forth hereunder such statutes of incorporation and articles of establishment of this political party as are appropriate, pending ratification of such setting forth by the highest decision making body of this political party; where thereafter such delegation of power shall be conveyed by the highest decision making body of this party to this constitution 2. Name and Identity a. The name of this political party is the RIGHTS AND JUSTICE PARTY OF THE AFRICA UNION b. The name of this political party may be shortened to RJP c. The identity of this political party may be designated by: i. The RJP Icon being: 1. RJP ii. The RJP Universal Resource Locator being: 1. www.rightsjusticeparty.org d. This political party will hereinafter be referred to as RJP 3. Legal Personality a. RJP is a body corporate with perpetual succession and is capable of suing and being sued in its own name. The Chairperson of the Federal Commission represents RJP in all legal proceedings by or against it, but may delegate the power to institute or defend legal proceedings or otherwise represent RJP in legal proceedings, to the Chairperson of a District Committee of RJP. b. RJP may own, purchase, sell, hire, lease, mortgage, pledge or in any way alienate or deal with both movable and immovable property and furthermore perform all such legal activities normally associated with a body corporate or specifically authorised by this constitution. c. All monies received and collected in the name of RJP shall vest in RJP itself. d. The income and properties of RJP are not distributable to its members or office bearers except as reasonable compensation to its employees for services rendered. e. No District Congress or subsidiary structure or its office bearers may bind the Federal Congress of RJP at a Federal Level financially through litigation, contractual obligations or in any manner whatsoever without the prior written authorisation thereto of the Federal Congress or Federal Commission. 4. Vision a. RJP’s vision for the Africa Union is of a prosperous continent which is governed at a local level for the benefit of all of its citizens, and which actively encourages its citizenry to exercise their civic rights and freedoms and to assume their concomitant civic responsibilities in all aspects of life. 5. Values a. RJP promotes and seeks the protection of the following immutable values for each and every single person:
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DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union i. Liberty ii. Dignity iii. Privacy 6. Principles a. RJP believes: i. That we have the ability to make our communities safer and to create employment at a local and community based level ii. That we have the ability to involve our communities in our work on an ongoing day to day basis iii. That we have the ability to ensure corruption-free politics and representative government iv. But most of all that we have the honesty to ensure that our communities are the most important parts of our continent, regions, countries, provinces and cities 7. Manifesto a. RJP shall develop and promote methodologies to resolve issues of service delivery in the following areas i. To achieve More Efficiency and Lower Cost: 1. Electricity, Water and Gas Utilities 2. Refuse and Sewerage Services ii. To achieve Better Value and Lower Cost: 1. Property Rates and Taxes 2. Municipal Levies and Taxes 8. Policy a. RJP shall develop and promote policies to address issues of service delivery in the following areas: i. Peace and Human Rights ii. Democracy and Dialogue iii. Mutual Respect and Tolerance iv. Transparency and Accountability v. Environmental Rights and Conservation vi. Housing and Security vii. Healthcare and Nutrition viii. Welfare and Education ix. Opportunity and Growth 9. Code of Conduct a. All members of RJP are required to swear under oath, or by way of affidavit, the following: i. That they will never commit any crime nor engage in any act of wrongdoing and impropriety ii. That they will conduct themselves in an ethical and honest manner iii. That they will maintain the dignity and gravitas of RJP through their activities iv. That they agree that should they act in breach of this pledge that they will be deemed to have cancelled their membership upon their own instance b. All members of RJP are required to declare any affiliation of any sort either directly or indirectly to any other political party or to any organisation which is associated with any other political party or which holds political principles or purposes; where failure to make such declaration will be a breach of the membership contract 10. Members a. Membership is open to all natural persons, who are citizens of Africa Union member states and who subscribe in writing to the Vision, Values, Principles, Manifesto, Policy and Code of Conduct of RJP b. Membership is obtainable through written subscription for such to the District Committee wherein that applicant member is registered as a voter c. Membership applications; once approved in principle; are subject to the payment of both a joining fee and a membership fee; to be determined by the Federal Congress; in order for the Membership to become effective
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DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union d. Membership is renewable every five years; but no later than in the last six months of that five year period. Thereafter, ceasing to be a member, any renewal of membership will take the form of a new application and be subject to a joining fee e. Membership may be cancelled by the member; through written notice; although this shall not result in a refund of any pro rate balance of membership fees paid or payable by the member f. Membership may be revoked; where a District Congress finds, through diligent inquiry, that a member has committed an act or multiple acts; which is or are contrary to the Code of Conduct of RJP. The member being in breach of his or her membership contract shall be deemed to have cancelled his or her membership upon their own instance g. Membership of at least six months’ standing, is a prerequisite for being an officer, a representative and/or an employee of RJP 11. Officers a. Any member of RJP is eligible to be elected to bear any office of RJP 12. Representatives a. Any member of RJP is eligible to be selected to serve as a representative of RJP by the Federal Commission b. All representatives of RJP become employees of RJP as soon as they are elected to serve as representatives of RJP c. All income, allowances and benefits receivable for representation, as provided by the representatives of RJP; shall be paid to RJP 13. Employees a. Any member of RJP is eligible to be appointed to become an employee of RJP b. All employees of RJP are employed, under contract, by the Federal Commission, upon appointment to such employment by the relevant District Committee or by the Federal Commission itself 14. Patrons a. Any member of RJP may become a patron of RJP; if they enter into a funding agreement with RJP; such that their status as patrons shall subsist for the term of their funding agreement 15. Program Partners a. Any juristic person which subscribes in writing to the Vision, Values, Principles, Manifesto, Policy and Code of Conduct of RJP, may become a program partner of RJP; if they enter into a program partnership agreement with RJP; such that their status as program partners shall subsist for the term of their program partnership agreement 16. Branches a. Branches are the basic units of RJP; and exist as subsidiary structures of Districts; such that they have no juristic personality of their own b. Branches are geographically delimited to encompass ten percent of the total number of wards in a District; where these wards shall be physically adjacent to each other c. The number of wards encompassed by any one branch may be increased or decreased by the District Committee to ensure that no branch encompasses wards in more than one municipality d. District Committees may constitute a Branch of RJP upon admitting at least one hundred members of RJP from that Branch’s territory to membership of RJP e. The Federal Commission is responsible for allocating an annual budget to and for effecting payments for and behalf of all Branches of RJP, through their respective RJP District 17. Branch General Meetings a. All members who are registered as voters in that branch’s territory, shall be entitled to attend that Branch’s General Meetings, which shall be held once in each month; on dates, at times and in venues to be determined on an annual basis by the District Committee; and communicated to all members of RJP in that branch b. The Branch General Meeting shall elect from the members present their Branch Committee and the Convenors of their Branch Forums, by a process to be determined by the Branch General Meeting
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DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union c. The Branch General Meeting shall determine a set of rules which shall govern the activities of the Branch, the Branch General Meetings, the Branch Forums and the Branch Committees and shall lodge these rules and amendments thereto with the relevant District Committee within thirty days of the determination thereof 18. Branch Forums a. A branch forum shall be establish in every ward which is encompassed by the branch; and shall serve the function of encouraging the residents of that ward to participate in civic activities b. The convenors of branch forums shall be responsible for implementing the Vision, Values, Principles, Manifesto, Policy and Code of Conduct of RJP through their branch forums 19. Branch Committees a. The Branch General Meeting shall elect for a term of five years, a branch committee, which shall consist of : i. Chairperson ii. Secretary iii. All Branch Forum Convenors b. The Chairperson of every RJP Branch is responsible for the annual submission of all minutes, organisational, project and financial reports to the District Secretary General 20. Districts a. Districts are the operational units of RJP; and exist as subsidiary structures of the Federal Congress; such that they have no juristic personality of their own b. Districts are geographically delimited to encompass the territory of a single Metropolitan Municipality or a District Council as defined by legislation of Africa Union member states c. The Federal Commission may constitute a District of RJP upon admitting at least one thousand members of RJP from that District’s territory to membership of RJP d. The Federal Commission is responsible for allocating an annual budget to and for effecting payments for and behalf of all Districts of RJP 21. District Congress a. All members who are registered as voters in that district’s territory, shall be entitled to attend that District’s Congress, which shall be held once in each calendar year; on a date, at a time and at a venue to be determined on an annual basis by the Federal Commission; and communicated to all members of RJP in that District b. A District Congress shall elect from the members present their District Committee and the Convenors of their District Forums, by a process to be determined by the District Congress c. A District Congress shall determine a set of rules which shall govern the activities of the District, the District Congress, the District Forums and the District Committees and shall lodge these rules and amendments thereto with the Federal Commission within thirty days of the determination thereof 22. District Forums a. There shall be established a District Forum for each of the policy areas of RJP; and such District Forums will convene public meetings to discuss both the issues informing the policies as formulated by RJP and the policies as promulgated by RJP b. The convenors of district forums shall be responsible for implementing the Vision, Values, Principles, Manifesto, Policy and Code of Conduct of RJP through their district forums 23. District Committees a. The District Congress shall elect for a term of five years, a district committee, which shall consist of: i. A President ii. A Deputy President iii. A Secretary General iv. Four Deputy Secretaries v. All District Forum Convenors b. The President of every RJP District is responsible for the annual submission of all minutes as well as all organisational, project and financial reports to the Chairperson of the Federal Commission; inclusive of all submissions from all branches
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DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union 24. Federal Congresses a. All members of RJP in each country, shall be entitled to attend the RJP Federal Congress in their country, which shall be held once in each calendar year; on a date, at a time and in a venue to be determined by the Federal Commission; and communicated to all members of RJP b. The Federal Congress shall elect from the members present the Chairperson of the Federal Congress and the officers of the Federal Commission, by a process to be determined by the Federal Congress c. The Federal Congress shall determine a set of rules which shall govern the activities of RJP at a Federal Level in that country, and shall lodge these rules and amendments thereto with the Founder Principal within thirty days of the determination thereof; for the insertion of these rules into § 24 of this constitution 25. Federal Commissions a. Each of the Federal Congresses shall elect for a term of five years, a Federal Commission for their country, which shall consist of : i. The Founder Principal ii. The Chairperson of the Federal Congress iii. The Chairperson of the Federal Commission iv. Nine Federal Commissioners b. The Federal Commission has the authority to open, manage and maintain banking, investment and other commercial accounts, in their country, in the name of the Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union or Rights Justice Party; to transact for and on behalf of, in the name of and for the benefit of RJP; and to delegate such authority to any other persons. c. The Federal Commission shall ensure that RJP is at all times registered as a Political Party, a Non-Profit Organisation and a Public Benefit Organisation, as may be required in their country. d. The Chairperson of the Federal Congress and the Chairperson of the Federal Commission have the power to act on behalf of RJP in terms of section 25.b. above; and shall have authorisation and “signing powers” over all accounts, transactions and registrations as indicated; where they must exercise this authority jointly, under the prior written authorisation of the Federal Commission. 26. Regional Councils a. The Federal Commissions of each country shall together constitute the Regional Council for their specific Region of the Africa Union b. Each of the Regional Councils shall elect from the members present the Chairperson of the Regional Council and the officers of the Regional Council, by a process to be determined by the Regional Council c. The Regional Council shall determine a set of rules which shall govern the activities of RJP at a Regional Level and shall lodge these rules and amendments thereto with the Founder Principal within thirty days of the determination thereof; for the insertion of these rules into § 26 of this constitution 27. Continental Assembly a. The Regional Councils of each region shall together constitute the Continental Assembly of the Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union b. The Continental Assembly shall elect from the members present the Chairperson of the Continental Assembly and the officers of the Continental Assembly, by a process to be determined by the Continental Assembly c. The Continental Assembly shall determine a set of rules which shall govern the activities of RJP at a Continental Level and shall lodge these rules and amendments thereto with the Founder Principal within thirty days of the determination thereof; for the insertion of these rules into § 27 of this constitution 28. Founder Principal a. The office of the Founder Principal is a ceremonial and non-executive office; and shall be held by one of the founders of RJP; as elected by a meeting of all of the founders; for the purpose of electing the Founder Principal b. The Founder Principal shall arbitrate, mediate and resolve all disputes which arise between members of RJP
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DRAFT Constitution of Political Party – Rights and Justice Party of the Africa Union c. The office of the Founder Principal shall cease to exist upon the death of all of the founders of RJP; whereafter the Federal Congress shall appoint a member of high regard and standing to serve as the Honourary Founder Principle until the next Federal Congress
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