STATUTES OF THE HUNGARIAN WORKES PARTY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700230025-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: March 7, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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STAT
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STAT
STATUTES OF THE HUNGARIAN WORKERS PARTY
A Magyar DolAOZOk Partin
Szervezeti Szabal eta
Budapest
I. NAME OF THE PARTY
1. The name of the party is the Hungarisn Workers Party.
The Hungarian Workers Party unites the forces of the Hungarian
Communist Party and the Social De:.ocratic Party, thus ending the decade-
long disunity of the Hungarian working class.
In the first places the party is the shock troop of the only
consistently socialist class. At tiie same time, it is the workers' nsrty,
which unites within its ranks the peasants as well as the best of the
working intellectuals. It embraces s wide range of workers and is a
mesa party, which recruits its membership from the entire working people
and is welded together with the wor'rers. The party is the highest form
of organization of the working class and of the working people.
The party's activities are directed by the teachings of Marx,
Engels, Lenin and Stalin.
The party carries on the revolutionary traditions of the working
class, continues the Hungarian people's fight for freedom; and is the
heir and promoter of Hungarian pro~?essive ideas.
The party fights for a socialistic society in which exploiting
classes and exploitation of man by man will cease, the differences of
the working classes will vanish, and progress will lead toward Communism.
II. RESPONSIBII,ITIES r\ND RIGHTS OF PARTY ME2+IDERS
2. The party member identifies hissel_? with the sins, the program
and the political line of the party participates in the work of a basic
organization, subordinates himself to party discipline, and pays his
membership dues regularly. Only persons who have attained the age of
16 years can become party members.
3? The responsibilities of the party member are as follows:
a. To fight with all his might for the party, the working people,
the country, and the prosperity of the Hungarian Republic.
b. To develop continuously his political knowledge, increase his
cultural level, and make every effort to ::.aster Marxist-Leninist doctrines.
c. To safeguard vigilantly the party's ideological purity and
organizational unity and to protect the party against all enemies.
d. To carry out the resolutions of party organs with discipline.
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e. To strengthen his relations with the masses, ~nligh:r:n them
on the party's politics, and be their counselo:? and leader.
f. To lead in production, Set an exar..ple in work discipline
and professional training, and guard law and order and the discipline
of the people's democratic state.
}+. The rights of the party member are as follows:
a. To participate in the party's political an3 organizational
debates and in the formulation of resolutions.
b. To criticize the work of the patty and the actiiit:es of
party members and organs at party meetings and conferences.
c. To participate in the election of ti:e ,aarty's leading or Gans
as candidate for election and voter.
d. To address questions or petitions to higher party organs, as
far as the Central Com::ittee and the National Conte ess.
III. RESPONSIBILITIES AIID RIGHTS OF CANDIDATES
FOR PARTY MEDIBERSHIP
5. The preliminary school for party membership is the probationary
membership. The purpose of the probationary membership is to enable a
person who desires to beco:ce a warty member to familiarize himself with
the progrn,^., bylaws, and political line of the party, and also to give
the party an opportunity to study the candidate's sincerity toward the
party and the People's Democracy.
u. The responsibilities and ri:,hts of the candidate are similar
to those of the merbers. However, the candidates participate ;n the
deliberations of party meetings and conferences but do not possess voting
rights an3 are not eligible for election to any party organ or coa_.ittee.
IV, ADMISSIDN OF PARTY MEMBERS AND CANDIDATES,
TERMINATION OF PARTY MEMBERSHIP AND CANDIDACY,
DEMDTIDN OF PARTY MEMBERS ANi! CANDIDATES
7. New party members can be ad^itted to the party only individually.
Generally, new party mec:bers can be selected only fro:. the candidates, and
then only from those who have been candidates for 6 months and have proved
to be worthy of party me:::oership as a rea?_ilt of their work. :\ candidate
is required to submit his written request for party me::.bership to the
secretary of his kcal party organ. The request must be accompanied by
the written reco;.mendations of two sponsors who have been members of '.nc
Hungarian Co^r unist Party, ti;e Social Democratic Party, or 'the Hungarian
Workers Party for at least 2 years, and have kno~.m the candidate as a
result of common activity for at least 5 months. The sponsors are respon-
sible to the party for their recom;::endations.
Recommendation for the ad::assion of a new :::ember is submitted by
the coc_.ittee of the basic organ to the membership ?eetin~ of the basic
organ and the admission is approved by the megye or jams Harty conusittee.
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In exceptional cases, applicants may be admitted io gist:;; :::e:~.bership
without the recommendation of the basic organ or after a period oi' candidacy
of less than 6 months, by the Central Committee, a megye co:rrrittee, or the
party committee of Budapest, Szeged, Miskolc, or Pecs.
8. Candidates can be admitted to the party only individually as
candidates. The applicant for candidacy is required to complete nn
admission declaration accompanied by written recommendations of two sponsors
who have been members of the Hungarian Co:mnunist Party the Social Democratic
Party, or the Hungarian Workers Party for at least one year and who are
familiar with the candidate as a result of common activity. The sponsors
are responsible to the party for their recommendations. Recor.~;:andation for
the admission of candidates is subm~cted by the com.?nittee of ti:c basic organ
to the membership meeting of the basic orgsn for decision and i~ approved
by the megye or ,jaras party committee.
9. The party member who performs his party duties with negligence,
fails to participate in party rallies and meetings, fails to train himself,
or fails to perform party work can he demoted to candidate status. The
remotion is decided by the megye or Maras party committee on the basis of
the recommendation of the co:n::iittee of the basic organ.
10. The party me:.ber or candidate who without justification fails to
pay his membership dues for 3 months or to fulfill his responsibilities
after a warning loses his party membership or his designation as a candidate.
The termination of party membership or of candidacy is recom:ended by the
coc:-Sttee of the local organ, and the decision is made by the membershin
meeting of the basic organ, which must submit it to the district, regional,
or city party committee for approval or disapproval.
11. Party members and candidates employed in institutions and enter-
prises are affiliated with the party organ of their place of employ:;.ent,
but the party organ of their residential area must also keep n record of
them.
All other party members and candidates belong to the ?arty organ
of their place of residence.
12. If a psrty member or candidate changes his residence o_ place of
employment he must be transferred to the party organ of his new place of
residence or employment. The party member or candidate must also leave the
transfer recorded in his membership book.
V. STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY ORGANIZITION
13? The party is organized on the principle of democratic centralism.
This means the following:
a. The important top organs of the party are elected democratically
at membership meetings, party conferences, and national party congresses.
b. The leading organs are required to give an account of their
activities to the party organizations.
c. The party organizations and?co:luittees de:ocratically debate
the political line and tasks of the party.
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d. In case of a difference of opinion, the minor_ty is -squired
to abide by the decision of the majority, and each party member and
candidate is obligated to carry out the decision.
e. The lower organs and party members as well as tl:e candidates
are required to carry out the decisions of the National Congress and of
the leading organs, even thounh individual mecbers, candidates, or party
organs are not in agreement with the decision.
f. In all organs and orgsnizations of the party, decisions are
reached by sicple majority.
g. Each party organ can decide local proble s indepe;:dently, but
these decisions cannot conflict with the party's program, pria:i.les, or
practical policy.
h. Democracy within ti:e party cakes possible and demands wide
development of solid party discipline, constructive criticism, and self-
criticism, a prerequisite for the good work of party organizations, r,.embers,
and candidates.
'J1? THE NATIONAL CONGRESS
14. The highest organ of the party is the Pational Con~?ess, which is
convo};ed every second year by the Central Co::_~ittee. The Central Co:;;;:ittee
may, on its own initiative or on the motion of one third of the party members,
convoke a special congress. Delegates to the re~lnr as well as the special
congress are elected democratically at party conferences. The number of
delegates of each party organization is established by the Central Caunittee.
15? The Ilationnl Congress does the following:
a. Hesrs and reviews the reuort of t!;e Central Co::_:attee, approves
or ;7odifies the party's pro?ra and statutes, and works out the political,
tactical, and organizational lines of the parts;.
b. Establishes the nu:..ber of members of the Centrsl Cou..ittce and
the Central Control Cocun_ttee and elects these organs der.ocratically.
VII. THP NATIONAL ?ARTY :.ONFERi;Ir'CE
1.;. Between two congresses, the Central Co::;.attee may, on its own
initistive, convolve n national party coni'erence. The nctional :arty con-
ference consists of the delegates and Ikarty funetionarics of the megyek
and of Dudapest, Szeged, Miskolc, and Pecc. The proportion of ;arty cember-
ship and the significance o? the individual party organizations are con-
sidered by the Central Comrittee i.n determining the nur.:.~ei? of delegates of
the Hari;;; committees at the national party confer::nce.
17. The national party conference decides on political and orgar.ii~:-
tional problems arising during the interim between two con.;resses.
18. The national party conference .s authorized to re-elect one fifth
of the members of the Central Cocv::ittee.
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VIZI. THE CENTRAL COh4fITPEE
19? The Central Committee directs the party during the interim between
two national party congresses and represents the party before other political
parties, organizations, state institutions, or state authorities.
20. The Central Committee elects the following Prom its own members:
a. The president, secretary-general, and deputy secretary-general
of the party.
b. The Political Committee, which executes the resolutions of the
Central Co:mnittee and decides on all questions during the interim between
two sessions oP the Central Committee.
c. The Organizing Committee, for the supervision of organizational
cork. The Orr~aniz+.ng Committee has the task of directing, unifying, and
supervising the al~oaratus and organs of the party. The Organizing Committee
submits its more important resolutions to the Political Coi;~:.ittee for approval.
d. The Secretariat, which conducts the affairs of t:ie party during
the interim between two sessions of the Political Co~rittee.
The Central Committee also appoints the responsible directors of
the central party press.
21. The operations of the Political Com.-Sttee and Secretariat are directed
by the Secretary~;eneral.
IX. CENTRAL CONTROL COMi~IITTEE
22. The tasks of the Central Control Co mittee are as follows:
a. To watch over the political attitudes, morality, and loyalty
to the party of party members and candidates.
b. To wage a relentless fight against all undisciplined actions,
factionism, and all forns of corruption.
c. To guard against infiltration into the party 'oy persons who are
injurious to the interests and moral beliefs of the working people, snd by
enemies of the working people.
23? The Central Control Committee may institute investigations against
party members and candidates and impose penalties in accordance with the
organizational regulations.
24. In addition to the Central Control Cocunittee, all Harty orga:., and
basic organ committees can conduct disciplinary investigations against party
members snd candidates and can render decisions; however, the decisions must
be submitted to the higher party organ for review.
25. Decisions on expulsion or disciplinary punishment cannot be announced
erithout the approval of the higher organ or of the Central Control Committee.
26. The Central Control Committee is subordinate to the ,jurisdiction
oY the Central Committee.
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X. MEGYE, JARAS, ARE.q (KGAZET), CITY, AtiD CITY DISTRICT CO:IIrSTTEES
27. The supervising organ of the megye party orgnnizntion is tiie megye
party conference, which democratically elects the member :,:egye board of
31-41 members. During the interim between two megye conferences, the megye
com?ittee is the directing organ of the party megye orgnnizntion. The megye
committee elects a subcommittee consisting of ~-13 members frog its mcnber-
ship to conduct routine matters and to unify and direct the party organiza-
tions. The megye comnattee meets monthly and the subcommittee meets weekly.
2B. The supervising organ of all party organizations of the ,;aras of
area is the ,jaras or area party conference, which elects a 25-31-member
jaras or area committee. The jaras or area committee elects from its
membership a jaras subcommittee consisting of j-11 members to unify and
direct the jaras party organizations.
29? The supervisory organs of the Budapest, Szeged, MisY.olc, and Pecs
party organizations are the Budapest, Szeged, Miskolc, and Pecs party
conferences, respectively. Each of these has a com ittee consisting of
31-43 me::isers. Each cor,.mittee, in turn, elects n subcommittee of ','-11
members for the purpose of unifying and directing the party organizations.
The Budapest, Szeged, 6fiskolc, and Pecs party com.ittees are directly
under the jurisdiction of the Central Com::attee.
30. In Budapest, the party organization is co.:iposed of city district
organs. The supervisory organ of the basic organizations of the city
district is the city district party conference, which elects a city district
comrittee of 31J~1 members. Each city district, in turn, elects a sub-
committee of 11-15 members to direct the city district, area, and plant
basic organizations.
31. The supervisory organ of city party organizations is t:ie ci~y
party conference, which elects a city com:.:ittee of 25-31 mer:bers. In
turn, each committee elects a subcom:~ittee of ,-13 members to unify an3
direct the area and industrial basic organs.
32. The party may have only one central com:ittee in each city and
town. It has the task of unifying and directing all basic organizations
and party members in the city or town.
33? A secretary and a deputy secretary are elected from the me:.:bers
of the party com:::ittee of each of the follo~ring: Budapest, Szeged, Miskolc,
Pecs, and each county. A chairman and a secretary are elected in each
city, area, and city district from the me::::ers of the party committee and
basic organizations. The secretary directs the committee's worFc. He is
responsible to his own cocucittce and to the supervisory organ for his work.
The chairman presides at committee and membership meetings, assists the
secretary in the litter's work, and, together with the secretary, represents
t;hc party before other political parties, organizations, and authorit`_,..
Yrithin the committee, work is divided. Each com::;ittee member directs a branch
of party work: organization, training, cadre, propaganda, rroduction, adml.,is-
tration, mass organizstions, trade unions, cooperatives, women's and youths'
work, the cashier's department, etc.-
34. The membe~?s of the megye; ,;aras, area, city, and city 3istrict com-
rattees are confir~:ed by the Central Committee. The Central Cou:ittcc has
authority to declare the election of a local co::_::ittee or of r.:er:bers of a
local committee null and. void. In unusual circumstances, the Central Com-
mittee can appoint a temporary local committee.
i
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XI. BASIC ORGANIZATIOi1S
35. The party structure is based on basic organizations. The msic
organization is the smallest independent organizational unit, which cannot
be subdivided. The basic organizations are the plant, area, village, and
farm party organizations. Ever~~ basic organizat'.on is n supporting factor
for the party in the accomplishment of the party's political, propaganda,
and organizing work among the masses. To form a basic organization, at
lea^,t three party members are required.
3u. The tasks oP the basic organization are as follows: formulation
oP the party's local policy, raising of the politics? level of i:arty
members, dissemination and popularization of policy, organization of
membership, collection of membership dues, protection of the everyday
interests of xorkers, and execution of party directives.
37? The supervising organ of the ulant party organization with a
me:.ioer^,hip of less than 1,000 is the plant party men.;bership meeting,
which elects n committee of 5-11 members. The plant party organizations
are part of tae city, city district, or town party organization and are
under its jurisdiction.
3A? Each plant party organization with a me:;.bership of more than
1,000 elects a com.,.ittee. The most important among these organizations
are subordinated directly to the Budapest party committee or, in rural
areas, to the megye party committee.
3`J? In large industrial party organizations where a slant party
cocrrittee exists, the shop party organization has the privileges of
the basic organization.
40. The local organization in the cities, city districts, or larger
towns which has a large membership is divided into area basic organiza-
tions. The area basic organization has a me:::bership of 100~~00. If
membership exceeds 400, a new local organization may be formed with the
permission of the supervisory organ. Tito supervisory organ. of the wren
organization is the town and farm party mebership meeting, which elects
n committee of 3-11 members.
41. In tae villages and farm groups, village and farm party organiza-
tions are operating. The supervisory organ of the farm party organization
i, the village membership meeting, which elects n committee of 3-11 r..embers.
42. The affairs of a party organization whose me:mbersiiip does not
exceed ten are conducted by a secretary elected by the Harty meeting, in-
stead of a co.:inittee.
h3? The co:;~mittee of the basic organization is confirmed by t'.ie
supervisory party organ.
44. A11 tasks set by the party are carried out by the warty workers
under the direction of the comr:,ittee of the party organization. The party
workers are the most class-conscious and devoted party members, elected
on the basis of their party work and upon the recom::endation of the com-
mittee of the local party organization by the party workers meeting.
45? The members of the basic organization are divided into groups of
ten, headed by stewards, for the p?.upose of improving political and indoctrina-
tion work, getting acquainted with party mec:rbers, inducing them to participate
in party work, and collecting party dues.
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XII. NATION~IL ASSEMBLY, i?1UNICZPAL, bIGG7C~,
AI7D TOWN GROUPS
4u. Party members of the national assembly, ::unicipal, and megye com-
mittees and town councils form parliamentary, municipal, meg?e, and town
council groups, respectively. Each group is headed by a com;attee oP 3 9
members. Esch committee is confirmed by tine appropriate supervisory organ
and is subordinate to the appropriate local committee or directly to the
Central Committee. All party me:ibers employed in the government, public
administration, the mass organizations, and elsewhere are subordinate to
the Central Committee or the local cocattee. The Central Co:.r.ittee or
the local com;:,ittee has the authority to recall the party members from
the above bodies.
XIII. PARTY DISCIPLINE
1~7? Tlie Hun~arinn '~lorkers Party can fulfill its task only if it is
nn embodiment of discipline sad organization. In the party iron discipline
exists to which every party member and party organization is required to
sub~:it. This iron discipline does not exclude but rather postulates
purposeful and voluntary subordination, because only deliberate discipline
can be true iron discipline. The discipline in the party car. be realized
only with unity of purpose and with the co-.;plete and unconditional unity
of action of all party members. Only through a relentless fight against
compromising and undisciplined ele:..ents can the Hungarian Workers Party
safeguard unity and discipline in its ranks.
1+f1. There is no place in the party for individual groups or factions,
because these undermine the unity and fighting preparedness of the party.
Anyone who organizes a faction within the party or participates in it, or
slackens or disrupts party discipline :::ust be rer.:oved from the party ranks
as an enemy.
1+). 2?Ie;;berc who harm the discipline or morale of the party or oppo^,e
the party's political line nay be sub,Ject to penalties by the na:?ty.organiza-
tion, the local and supervisory com::ittees, and the Central Conc;.ittee.
The party penalty to be imposed is, according to the gravity of the case,
reprimand, censure, severe censure, or expulsion from the party. The penalty
can be appealed to the supervisory party organization, as far as the National
Congress. The penalty reu~nins in effect until it is modified by n supervisory
organ.
50. The Central Committee iany institute proceedings and take action
ngains~ any party member who violates the discipline or intere_ta ;;; lire
party. The Central Conmittee is authorized to dissolve any party organiza-
tions or local committees whose operations are opposed to the aims, policy.
or statutes of the party.
51. The statutes of the Hungarian l~lorl:ers Party are the constitution of
tl:e party and constitute a law for every part;,? r..ember and natty organization.
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