I. NAME AND OBJECTS OF THE PARTY

 

 

§ 1       The name of the Party shall be „Negyedik Köztársaság Párt” (The Fourth Republic Party)

            The abbreviated name of the Party shall be 4K!

            The registered seat of the Party shall be at 1026 Budapest, Pasaréti út 157/B, 1/ 2.

            The Party is a legal entity.

§ 2

(1)       The objects of the Party shall be as follows:

a)        to represent the dignity and interests of employees;

b)        to promote, within the framework provided by law, the establishment and stable functioning of the Fourth Republic, based on authentic social consent;

c)        to strengthen democratic society by creating stable livelihood for the lower and middle classes and by improving their life conditions;

d)        to represent the values of social democracy and patriotism;

e)        to participate, through its elected representatives, in the work of local governments, the national and the European Parliament;

f)         to represent any and all issues set out by the members of the Party in the Basic Programme.

(2)       The Party shall operate in compliance with the statutes, laws and rules of Hungary.

 

II. PARTY MEMBERSHIP

§ 3

(1)       Any Hungarian citizen or any citizen of the European Union vested with voting rights in Hungary may become member of the Party, provided he/she is older than sixteen years of age, is not subject to legal guardianship limiting or excluding his/her capacity, has no previous convictions and accepts the Charter and Basic Programme of the Party.

(2)       Only such individual may be a founding member and/or officer of the Party who also qualifies as eligible candidate in a parliamentary election or an election of the local government and the mayor.

(3)       No Party membership shall be granted to individuals already belonging to any other political party, unless the Governing Board previously agrees to such double party membership in writing. Furthermore, no Party membership shall be granted to individuals who are already members of any affiliated organisation of any other political party, and to individuals who are members of any non-governmental organization that, in any national or European parliamentary election, has declared its support for any other political party or party candidate. No Party membership shall be granted to individuals subject to a final legal judgment forbidding them to participate in public affairs.

§ 4

(1)       A new member admission procedure shall commence upon the respective written application of a prospective member, where the prospective member declares, by filling out the standard questionnaire established for the purpose, that he/she agrees and conforms to the Charter and the Basic Programme of the Party. The Regional Committee operative at the address where the prospective member either works or resides, as indicated by the same prospective member in the respective application, shall decide upon the admission of the candidate into the Party within 30 (thirty) days. The Regional Committee shall reject the application if the prospective member fails to meet the criteria set out in § 3 hereinabove. The prospective member may appeal the decision by the Regional Committee to the Governing Board of the Party within 8 (eight) days. The appeal shall be determined by the Governing Board of the Party within 30 (thirty) days. No further appeal shall lie against the decision of the Governing Board. The Governing Board may also proceed ex officio and reverse, without giving reason thereof, the decision of the Regional Committee regarding the admission of a member, within 60 (sixty) days following the decision of the Regional Committee. In the event that there is no competent Regional Organisation, then the Governing Board shall directly proceed in the matters of a member’s registration and admission.

(2)       A member may participate in the activities of several Regional Organisations; however he/she shall be entitled to vote within the Regional Organisation, and shall be eligible for any regional or constituency office within the Regional Organisation and the constituency where the member in question is registered on the basis of territorial competence. A member shall be registered only in one regional registry of members.

(3)       In the event that the residential or work address of a member is changed, then the member shall notify the Governing Board of his/her re-registration in the new competent Regional Organisation. The Governing Board shall acknowledge the re-registration of the member within 30 (thirty) days following the submission of the notification and it shall adopt the necessary administrative measures, provided the member has provided sufficient documentary evidence of his/her changed residential or work address.

§ 5       Termination of Membership

(1) The Governing Board shall establish the termination of the membership and cancel the member from the registry of members

a)         upon decease of the member;

b)         if the member voluntarily terminates his/her membership;

c)         in the event that the member fails to pay his/her membership subscription for more than 2 (two) subsequent years and he/she fails to pay such arrears within 30 (thirty) days following receipt of the respective notice;

d)         in the event that a standing candidate of the Party is elected as a member of the national Parliament, a member of the European Parliament or a member of a local government and, following the elections, such individual fails to participate in the founding of the parliamentary group of members of the Party or electoral fusion of parties, or fails to apply for admission into the already existing parliamentary group thereof within 15 (fifteen) days following his/her election, or prevents the founding of the parliamentary group of members of the Party or, during his/her mandate, the member quits such parliamentary group;

e)         in the event that, in the national or European parliamentary elections or in the local government elections, the member stands for election as a candidate of any other organisation or as an independent candidate, either in an individual constituency or on a list of candidates, without the approval of the Governing Board of the Party. In such event the membership shall be terminated on the day when the candidacy of the member is officially announced;

d)        if the member is expelled;

e)        if the membership requirements cease to apply;

f)         if the Regional Organisation, where the member is registered, ceases to exist.

(2) The member shall notify the Governing Board of his/her intention of terminating his/her Party membership in writing; the Governing Board shall acknowledge the termination of the Party membership and cancel the member from the register of members within 8 (eight) days.

(3) Only the Ethical Committee shall have the right and competence to expel a member.

§ 6       Rights of the Member

(1)       Each member shall have the right

a)         to participate in the activities of the Local Organisation and/or the Regional Organisation;

b)         to participate in the election of Party congress delegates and in the election of Party committees and officers;

c)         to stand for election as candidate and be elected as a member of any Party committee or as a Party officer, provided he/she satisfies the respective conditions set out in the Charter;

d)        to recommend, in accordance with the rules set out in the Charter, a member for the position of Chair, Vice Chair, member of the National Committee and member of the Ethical Committee;

e)         to exercise, in accordance with the rules of participation set out in the Charter, direct influence on Party politics.

(2)       A member may stand for election as candidate and be elected as a member of any Party committee or as a Party officer in accordance with the rules set out in Heading c) hereinabove, if the member in question reaches 18 years of age before the date of the election.

§ 7       Obligations of the Member

(1)       Each member shall be obliged

a)         to pay the membership subscription determined by the National Committee;

b)         to behave in a manner that does not harm the interests, the good reputation, the Charter and/or the Basic Programme of the Party;

c)         to comply with the resolutions adopted by the decision-making organs of the Party.

(2)       The amount of the membership subscription specified in Section (1) a) hereinabove shall be determined by the National Committee. Upon request of a member, submitted by filling out the standard questionnaire established for the purpose, the Governing Board may grant the option to pay reduced membership subscription with regard to the financial and personal conditions of the member in question, and in particular with regard to the young or advanced age of the member, his/her studies, illness and/or any cause that prevents the member in question from pursuing any type of gainful employment.

 

III. THE MEASURES OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

§ 8       The purpose of a Party Initiative, a Party Voting and an Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting is to grant Party members the option to exercise direct influence on Party politics regarding certain issues of national importance.

§ 9       Party Initiative

(1)       A Party Conference shall be convened upon request of at least 10 % of Party members, indicating the goal and reasons thereof (Party Initiative).

(2)       The collection of signatures required for a Party Initiative shall be effectuated exclusively by using a signature collection sheet specifically established for the purpose. The Governing Board shall authenticate the signature collection sheet upon request, within 10 (ten) days following receipt of such request.

(3)       The signatures required for a Party Initiative may be collected for a period of 30 (thirty) days following the authentication date. Within 15 (fifteen) days following submission of the necessary supportive signatures to the Governing Board, the Governing Board shall convene the Party Conference at a date not later than within 60 (sixty) days. The Governing Board shall refuse to convene the Party Conference if, based on the signature collection sheet, the Board finds that the Party Initiative does not have the necessary number of supportive signatures.

(4)       An appeal may be filed against the resolution of the Governing Board by which the Board refuses to authenticate the sheets, and the resolution by which the Board refuses to convene the Party Conference pursuant to a Party Initiative; such appeal shall be submitted to the National Committee within 8 (eight) days and the National Committee shall evaluate such appeal at its next ordinary meeting.

(5)       The Party Conference convened pursuant to a Party Initiative shall have competence to adopt any resolution only and exclusively in the matters indicated in the Party Initiative and any additional matters proposed by the Governing Board.

§ 10     Party Voting

(1)       Upon request of at least 30% of Party members or upon initiative from the Governing Board, a decisive party voting shall be held relative to any subject matters, with the exception of any amendments to the Charter and any economical and/or financial issues of the Party (Party Voting).

(2)       The collection of signatures required for a Party Voting shall be effectuated exclusively by using a signature collection sheet specifically established for the purpose. The Governing Board shall authenticate the signature collection sheet upon request, within 10 (ten) days following receipt of such request. The Governing Board shall refuse to authenticate the sheet if the proposed subject matter of the Party Voting includes any amendments to the Charter or any economical and/or financial issues of the Party. The Governing Board shall also refuse to authenticate the sheet if the question raised cannot be answered with an unambiguous “yes” or “no”.

(3)       The signatures required for a Party Voting may be collected for a period of 30 (thirty) days following the authentication date. Within 15 (fifteen) days following submission of the necessary supportive signatures to the Governing Board, the Governing Board shall set out the Party Voting at a date not later than within 60 (sixty) days. The Governing Board shall refuse to set out the Party Voting if, based on the signature collection sheet, the Board finds that the subject matter of the Party Voting does not have the necessary number of supportive signatures.

(4)       An appeal may be filed against the resolution of the Governing Board by which the Board refuses to authenticate the sheets, and the resolution by which the Board refuses to set out a Party Voting; such appeal shall be submitted to the National Committee within 8 (eight) days and the National Committee shall evaluate such appeal at its next ordinary meeting.

(5)       The Party Voting shall not be set out at the date of a Party Conference or at any date within 30 (thirty) days prior to the date of a Party Conference.

(6)       The Regional Committee shall organise the Party Voting. The Party Voting shall take place on the days specified for the purpose, however not longer than a period of four days, at the location determined for the purpose by the Regional Committee.

(7)       The Party Voting shall be deemed valid if at least one half of the members attended the voting. The Party Voting shall be deemed successful if more than one half of the attending members gave identical answers.

(8)       In the event of a successful Party Voting, the result of the Party Voting shall be binding upon the Party Conference and any and all organs and bodies of the Party. No repeated Party Voting shall be held in the subject matters of the Party Voting within 1 (one) year following the date thereof.

§ 11 Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting

(1)       Upon request of at least 40% of Party members, the Governing Board shall convene an Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting.

(2)       The collection of signatures required for an Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting shall be effectuated exclusively by using a signature collection sheet specifically established for the purpose. The Governing Board shall authenticate the signature collection sheet upon request, within 10 (ten) days following receipt of such request.

(3)       Within 15 (fifteen) days following submission of the necessary supportive signatures to the Governing Board, the Governing Board shall convene the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting at a date not later than within 60 (sixty) days. The Governing Board shall refuse to convene the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting if, based on the signature collection sheet, the Board finds that the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting does not have the necessary number of supportive signatures.

(4)       An Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting shall not be convened at a date within 6 (six) months prior to the date of an ordinary Official Elections Meeting and at a date within 1 (one) year following the date of an ordinary Official Elections Meeting.

(5)       The Regional Organisation and the Local Organisation shall convene an extraordinary meeting for the election of officials if at least 30 % of the members of the respective Regional Organisation or Local Organisation submits a request to the Governing Board in accordance with the terms and conditions set out herein.

 

IV. REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS, LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, CONSTITUENCY COMMITTEES

§ 12     The Regional Organisation and the Regional Committee

(1)       The regional organisational unit of the Party shall be the Regional Organisation.

(2)       One Regional Organisation may be founded in each county. Four Regional Organisations may be founded in the town of Budapest, and two Regional Organisations may be founded in Pest County.

(3)       The founding of a Regional Organisation shall require the joint and written declaration of foundation signed by at least 10 (ten) Party members residing in the area in question.

(4)       The Governing Board shall approve or reject the petition requesting the registration of a Regional Organisation. The Governing Board shall refuse the registration of a Regional Organisation if such act would constitute a violation of the Charter of the Party. An appeal may be filed against the resolution of the Governing Board by which the Board refuses to register a Regional Organisation; such appeal shall be submitted to the National Committee of the Party within 15 (fifteen) days and the National Committee shall evaluate such appeal at its next ordinary meeting. The appeal shall be determined by the Governing Board of the Party within 30 (thirty) days. No further appeal shall lie against the decision of the National Committee and against the decision of the Governing Board by which the Board orders the registration of a Regional Organisation.

(5)       In respect of any subject matters falling within the competence of the Regional Organisation, the Regional Committee shall convene a Regional Meeting. The Regional Meeting shall have a quorum if more than one half of the members of the Regional Organisation attend the meeting either in person or by proxy. In the event that the Regional Meeting fails to have a quorum, then the Chair of the Regional Organisation shall convene the Regional Meeting again. Such repeated Regional Meeting shall have a quorum irrespective of the number of members attending.

(6)       The Regional Organisation shall:

a)         adopt its own procedural rules;

b)         elect the Regional Chair and the members of the Regional Committee;

c)         send delegates to Party Conferences and determine the issues regarding which the delegate has a free or a tied mandate;

d)        perform the duties relative to the founding of the Constituency Committee as determined by the Charter;

e)         upon initiative from the Regional Committee, make a recommendation to the Governing Board relative to the candidates standing up for election in the individual constituencies within the region;

f)         upon proposal from the Regional Committee, adopt a decision relative to the candidates standing up for election both individually and as listed candidates in the local government elections, provided there is no operating Local Organisation within the area of the local government in question;

g)        adopt decisions relative to any other issues determined by the Charter.

The Regional Organisation shall perform its duties and exercise its rights in accordance with its own procedural rules.

(7)       In respect of any issues within the competence of the Regional Organisation, the Regional Meeting shall adopt its decisions by a simple majority of votes.

(8)       The members of a Regional Organisation shall elect a Regional Chair and a Regional Committee from among the members. The Regional Committee shall have 5 (five) members; such members shall include the Regional Chair and 4 (four) members elected by the members of the Regional Organisation. The duties of the Regional Committee shall include the performance of any and all operative and administrative tasks arising in connection with the Regional Organisation; furthermore the determination of the regional politics of the Party in accordance with the Basic Programme of the Party.

(9)       The Regional Committee shall submit a proposal to the National Committee relative to the individuals to be listed as county assembly candidates.

(10)     The Temporary Conciliation Board consisting of the members of the Regional Committee and the Chair of the Local Organisation shall, upon consideration of the proposal from the Local Organisation, adopt a decision relative to the candidate standing up for mayoral election within the area of the Local Organisation. In the event that there is no Local Organisation operating in the area, then the mayoral candidate shall be appointed by the Regional Committee.

(11)      The appointment of the Regional Chair and the members of the Regional Committee shall cease:

a)         on the day of the regional election of Party officers;

b)         upon their resignation;

c)         upon their decease;

d)        upon termination of their Party membership;

e)         upon revocation of their appointment pursuant to the terms set out in Section 11(5) herein;

f)         upon divestiture by the Ethical Committee.

(12)     In the event that the appointment of the Regional Chair or any member of the Regional Committee is terminated, then the Regional meeting shall elect a new member or members within 30 (thirty) days.

(13)     A regional election of Party officers shall be held within 60 (sixty) days of the national election of Party officers.

§ 13     Termination of the Regional Organisation

(1)       The Regional Organisation shall be terminated if the members of the Regional Organisation unanimously deliberate for the dissolution of the Regional Organisation.

(2)       The Governing Board shall dissolve the Regional Organisation, if

a)         the Regional Organisation operates in violation of the Charter and/or Basic Programme of the Party, or its operation jeopardizes any basic and fundamental interests of the Party;

b)         for a period of 12 (twelve) months, the number of members of the Regional Organisation is below 10 (ten).

§ 14     Founding, Tasks and Competence of the Local Organisation

(1)       Within the area of a Regional Organisation, at least three (3) Party members may, by their joint and written declaration, found a Local Organisation.

(2)       In respect of any subject matters falling within the competence of the Local Organisation, the Chair of the Local Organisation shall convene a Local Meeting.

(3)       The Local Organisation shall be an individual organisational unit within the Regional Organisation; shall adopt its own procedural rules; shall elect the Chair of the Local Organisation; shall determine the local politics of the Party in accordance with the Basic Programme of the Party, and within such framework the Local Organisation shall submit proposals to the Regional Organisation and the Governing Board of the Party; furthermore the Local Organisation shall participate in the political campaigns of the Party.

(4)       Upon proposal from the Chair of the Local Organisation, the Local Organisation shall adopt a decision relative to the candidates standing up for election both individually and as listed candidates in the local government elections. The Local Organisation shall submit a proposal to the Temporary Conciliation Board consisting of the members of the Regional Committee and the Chair of the Local Organisation, relative to the candidate standing up for mayoral election within the area of the Local Organisation.

(5)       The Regional Committee shall approve or reject the petition requesting the registration of a Local Organisation. The Regional Committee shall refuse the registration of a Local Organisation if such act would constitute a violation of the Charter of the Party. An appeal may be filed against the resolution of the Regional Committee by which the Committee refuses to register a Local Organisation; such appeal shall be submitted to the Governing Board of the Party within 15 (fifteen) days. The Governing Board shall evaluate such appeal within 30 (thirty) days. No further appeal shall lie against the decision of the Governing Board and against the decision of the Regional Committee by which the Committee orders the registration of a Local Organisation.

(5)       Only one Local Organisation may be founded within the administrative area of a town/city, and only one Local Organisation may be founded in each district within the town of Budapest.

§ 15     Termination of a Local Organisation

(1)       The Local Organisation shall be terminated, if

a)         the Local Organisation unanimously deliberates for such termination;

b)         for a period of 6 (six) months, the number of members of the Local Organisation is below 3 (three).

(2)       The Governing Board of the Party shall dissolve the Local Organisation if the Local Organisation operates in violation of the Charter and/or Basic Programme of the Party, or its operation jeopardizes any basic and fundamental interests of the Party.

§ 16     The Constituency Committee

(1)       In the individual constituencies for parliamentary elections where, pursuant to the decision of the National Committee, the Party has candidates standing up for election, a Constituency Committee shall be operative for the period of 1 (one) month following the elections.

(2)       The Constituency Committee shall lead the campaign of the Party in the respective constituency. For the period elapsing from the establishment of the Constituency Committee until the parliamentary elections, the work of the Party members residing within the constituency shall be managed by the Constituency Committee.

(3)       The date of establishment of the Constituency Committees shall be determined by the Governing Board.

(4)       The Constituency Committee shall manage any and all legal issues relative to the elections, and within such framework the Constituency Committee shall represent the Party before the local election committees, furthermore the Constituency Committee shall organise and supervise the election campaign.

(5)       The Constituency Committee shall be elected by the Party members residing in the constituency in question. The meeting of the Party members residing in the constituency shall be convened by the Regional Committee.

(6)       The Constituency Committee shall have at least 3 (three) and not more than 9 (nine) members; the exact number of the members of the Constituency Committee shall be determined by the meeting of the Party members residing in the constituency. The Chair of the Constituency Committee shall be elected by the Party members residing in the constituency in question.

 

V. PARTY CONFERENCE

§ 17     The supreme deliberative power shall be vested in and exercised by the Party Conference. The deliberations of the Party Conference shall be binding upon any and all members, organisations and bodies of the Party.

§ 18 Convening the Party Conference

(1) The Governing Board shall arrange for convening the Party Conference. The Governing Board shall determine the time and place of the Party Conference. The Governing Board shall convene the Party Conference to adopt decisions in matters within the competence of the Party Conference and may convene the Party Conference to request the decision of the members in any matters.

The Governing Board shall convene the Party Conference pursuant to the provisions of the relevant act, that is, at least once per year. Furthermore, the Governing Board shall convene the Party Conference if ordered by the court, and in other manners and cases specified by law.

(2) The Governing Board shall convene the Official Elections Meeting in the year following the parliamentary elections, but at least once in every 4 years. The Official Elections Meeting shall elect the Party`s national officers, adopt the report of the Governing Board and the National Committee and is entitled to decide in matters within the Party Conference`s scope of responsibilities and competence. 

(3) The Governing Board shall convene the Party Conference upon Party Initiative (§ 9). At the Party Conference convened upon Party Initiative, the candidates can only decide regarding the Party Initiative and other points of the agenda that have been proposed by the Governing Board.

(4) The Governing Board shall convene the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting

            (a)       in the case described in § 11;

            (b)       at the initiative of the Chair;

            (c)        if the number of the members of the National Committee drops to the half of the original number;

            (d)       if the position of the Chair is vacant.

(5) The rules of the Official Elections Meeting shall apply to the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting.

(6) The mandates of the Party`s Chair, Vice Chairs and the members of the National Committee and the Ethical Committee shall terminate on the day of the Extraordinary Official Elections Meeting.

§ 19 The delegates, the agenda

(1) The Party Conference will be attended by the delegates of the Regional Organisations with voting right.

(2) All Regional Organisations are entitled to send one-one delegate to the Party Conference, if at the time of sending the delegate the number of its members reaches 10 persons. The Regional Organisation may send 1 additional delegate for all additional 20 members, but not more than 6 delegates per Regional Organisation.

(3)The Regional Organisations, the National Committee and the Governing Board shall have the right submit proposals at the Party Conference. Proposals must be sent to the Governing Board at least 30 days prior to the date of the Party Conference.

(4) The Governing Board will determine the points of the agenda of the Party Conference on the basis of the submitted proposals and -in case of electing officials- the candidates nominated for office. The Governing Board shall send the points of the agenda, together with its opinion, to the Regional Organisations at least 15 days prior to the Party Conference. 

(5) The members of the Regional Organisation will develop -pursuant to their procedural rules- their position concerning the points of the agenda of the Party Conference.

(6) Simultaneously with electing the candidate, the Regional Organisation shall determine the issues regarding which the delegate has a free or a tied mandate. At the time of providing notice of the person of the delegate, the Regional Organisation shall also notify the Governing Board of the issues regarding which the elected delegate has a tied mandate.

(7) The members of the Governing Board and the National Committee shall have the right to speak at the Party Conference.

(8) Other matters related to the management of the Party Conference shall be defined by the Governing Board.

§ 20 The responsibilities and competence of Party Conference

(1) The Party Conference shall

a) adopt and amend the Party`s Charter;

b) adopt and amend the Party's Basic Programme;

c) elect and recall the Party`s Chair;

d) elect and recall the Party's Vice Chairs;

e) elect and recall members of the National Committee;

f) elect and recall the members of the Ethical Committee;

g) decide relevant to the Party's dissolution, demerger, or merger with other political organisations;

h) decide relevant to the name of the Party and its amendment;

i) issue political statements on behalf of the Party Conference;

j) discuss and adopt the report of the Governing Board, the National Committee and the Ethical Committee;

k) decide in all matters conferred under its competence by the Charter.

(2) Issues listed in sections a) - i) and k) shall fall within the Party Conference`s scope of exclusive responsibilities and competence.

(3) The Party Conference has quorum for the concerned point of the agenda, if more than half of the delegates cast valid votes at the Party Conference. The Party Conference shall adopt decisions with a simple majority of votes. Decision in matters listed in sections g) and h) requires a 2/3 majority of the votes casted by all delegates.

 

VI. THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE

§ 21 The National Committee is the Party`s decision-making, supervisory and remedial body. Between two Party Conferences, the National Committee shall exercise the rights of the Party Conference in all matters that do not fall within the scope of exclusive competence and responsibilities of the Party Conference or other bodies.

§ 22 The members and the meeting of the National Committee

(1) The National Committee consists of the members of the Governing Board and 15 additional members elected by the Party Conference.

(2) Any Hungarian citizen supported by at least two Regional Organisations, or 5% of the members of the Party by written recommendation may be elected as member of the National Committee.

(3) The National Committee shall determine its own rules of procedure, organisational and operational rules and elect its chair from among its members. The mandate of the members of the National Committee will terminate on the day of the Official Elections Meeting.

(4) The meeting of the National Committee shall be chaired by the chair of the National Committee. The inaugural meeting of the National Committee shall be convened by the Party’s Governing Board, while the other meetings shall be convened by the chair of the National Committee.

(5) The National Committee shall hold two regular meetings annually: the first in March and the second in December.

(6) At the March regular meeting, the National Committee shall discuss and adopt the budgetary report of the Governing Board for the previous calendar year, discuss and approve the information provided by the Governing Board and the Director on the previous year and decide in all other matters placed on the agenda of the meeting.

(7) At the December regular meeting, the National Committee shall discuss and adopt the annual budget proposal submitted by the Governing Board for the next year, determine the amount of the membership fee for the following calendar year, and decide on the principles of allocating financial support to organisational units.

(8) In addition to the two regular meetings, the meeting of the National Committee must be convened at the initiative of the Governing Board, or if at least 5 members of the National Committee request that the chair of the National Committee convene the meeting.

(9) The chair of the National Committee shall convene the meeting of the National Committee within 30 days of submitting the request.

(10) The chair of the National Committee shall send written invitations to the meeting of the National Committee to the members of the National Committee at least 14 days prior to the meeting.

(11) All members of the National Committee and the Governing Board will have the right to make proposals pertinent to agenda of the meeting of the National Committee. The proposal must be sent to the chair of the National Committee at least 8 days prior the meeting of the National Committee.

(12) The Governing Board shall be entitled to convene the extraordinary meeting of the National Committee within 3 days for the resolution of political issues requiring urgent decision. In the latter case, the Governing Board shall arrange for sending the invitations without any delay.

(13) At the extraordinary meeting, the National Committee may only decide in political issues requiring urgent decision and additional points may not be placed on the agenda.

(14) The office of the members of the National Committee shall terminate:

a) in case of resignation;

b) in the event of death;

c) in case of the termination of membership;

d) on the day of the Official Elections Meeting;

e) if the member has been stripped off his office by the Ethical Committee.

§ 23 The responsibilities and competence of the National Committee

(1) The National Committee shall

a) between two Party Conferences, after consultation with the Governing Board, issue position statements in matters affecting the Party`s policies and in strategic questions;

b) approve the information provided by the Governing Board;

c) issue declarations on its behalf;

d) make decisions that are compulsory for the Local Organisations and the Regional Organisations;

e) at the proposal of the Governing Board, decide about signing and terminating  association agreements with parties and coalition agreements of national impact;

f) decide about cooperation with social organisations and the method of cooperation;

g) decide about the classification of social organisations as partner organisation;

h) at the proposal of the Governing Board, appoint candidates in parliamentary elections;

i) at the proposal of the Regional Committee – by taking into account the opinion of the Governing Board - decide relative to the Party`s list of county assembly candidates,

j) at the proposal of the Governing Board, decide relative to the individuals to be listed as candidates in the parliamentary elections,

k) at the proposal of the Governing Board, decide relative to the individuals to be listed as candidates in European parliamentary elections,

l) by taking into account the proposal of the Budapest Regional Organisations, decide relative to the Party`s candidate running in mayoral elections in Budapest;

m) adopt the annual budget submitted by the Governing Board, decide relevant to the amendments of the budget submitted by the Governing Board and adopt the budgetary report;

n) decide about membership fees and supplementary membership fees and the rules of paying and using such fees;

o) decide about the principles of allocating financial support to party organisations;

p) account for its activities to the Party Conference.

(2) If the National Committee does not accept the candidates and lists mentioned in sections h)-m) and referred to the National Committee, the presenter is required to submit new candidates and lists.

(3) The National Committee has quorum for adopting resolutions, if more than half of its members are present. The National Committee shall make decisions with a simple majority of the votes of the members present. The National Committee shall decide with a 2/3 majority of those present in issues referenced in section d).

 

VII. The Governing Board

§ 24 The Governing Board is the Party`s operative, executive and decision-making body which operates on a continuous basis.

§ 25 The members and the meeting of the Governing Board

(1) The members of the Governing Board are the Party`s Chair –as chair- and the Party`s four Vice Chairs.

(2) The Party`s Chair and four Vice Chairs shall be elected by the Party Conference.

(3) Any Hungarian citizen supported by at least five Regional Organisations, or the National Committee, or 20 % of the members of the Party by written recommendation may be elected as the Party`s Chair. 

(4) Any Hungarian citizen supported by at least three Regional Organisations, or the National Committee, or 10 % of the members of the Party by written recommendation may be elected as the Party`s Vice Chair. 

(5) The Chair and the Vice Chairs of the Party may be re-elected without separate nomination.

(6) The Party`s Chair may convene the meeting of the Governing Board at any time. The Party`s Chair must convene the meeting of the Governing Board within 5 days if half of the members of the Governing Board request so request in writing by indicating the agenda in advance.

(7) The Governing Board has quorum for adopting resolutions if more than half of its members are present at the meeting and makes decisions with a simple majority of the votes. The meeting of the Governing Board shall be chaired by the Party’s Chair, and if he is prevented from attending, he shall be replaced by the person designated by the Chair, or in lieu of such designation, the Vice Chair elected by the Governing Board. The Governing Board`s meeting is open to anyone in an advisory capacity who is invited by the Governing Board.

(8) The office of the Chair and the Vice Chairs shall terminate:

a) in case of resignation;

b) in the event of death;

c) in case of the termination of membership;

d) on the day of the Official Elections Meeting.

§ 26 The responsibilities and competence the Governing Board

(1) The Governing Board shall:

a) lead the Party`s activities in order to realize the Basic Programme in accordance with the decisions of the Party Conference and the National Committee, manage and coordinate the election campaign, manage the Party's communications activities and adopt compulsory decisions to improve the Party`s operations;

b) manage the development of the Party's election and specialized programmes in line with the Basic Programme;

c) direct the activities of the Regional Organisations, monitor compliance with the Charter, the Basic Programme  and the decisions of the Party Conference and the National Committee;

d) keep the central register of members;

e) represent the Party, and in the course of the representation the Party`s Chair is vested with independent signing right, which may be delegated permanently or on a case-by-case basis to the members of the Governing Board to carry out certain responsibilities;

f) issue declarations and statements on behalf of the Party;

g) adopt resolutions that are binding upon the members of the Party, the Local Organisations, the Regional Organisations and the Election Committees,

h) set up negotiating teams, committees, create positions for periodic assignments or for specific tasks, and assign its own powers the above bodies or persons;

i) liaise with other social organisations and parties and cultivate the Party`s international relations;

j) manage the Party`s assets, exercise the owner`s rights, at the Chair`s proposal appoint and dismiss the Director and the managers of party-owned economic organisations and institutions, decide to establish national foundations and elect their boards,  and decide relevant to the acceptance of foreign aid;

k) by taking into account the proposal of the Regional Organisation, appoint the candidate running in interim parliamentary elections;

l) prepare and submit for adoption to the National Committee the Party's annual budget and year-closing statement of accounts;

m) ensure the implementation of the annual budget approved by the National Committee, and submit a report thereon to the National Committee;

n) control the Party`s parliamentary representatives politically, make proposals to submit bills, issue opinions on the principles of the specific bills, and require specific behaviour of the Party`s parliamentary representatives in specific issues;

o) proceed in all matters that are conferred under its competence by the Charter or the Party Conference.

(2) The Governing Board shall account for its activities at the two regular annual meetings of the he National Committee and all Official Elections Meeting.

(3) The Chair is entitled to sign on behalf of the Party. The Chair is entitled to dispose over the Party`s bank account with independent signing right.

 

VIII. The director, professional committees

27 § The Governing Board may establish standing and ad hoc Professional Committees in professional policy issues.

(1) Consultants supporting the Party will participate in such Professional Committees at the invitation of the Governing Board.

(2) The Professional Committee shall make recommendations on matters within its area of expertise to the Party's Governing Board.

 § 28    The Director

(1) The Governing Board shall appoint the Director who, in cooperation with the Governing Board, meets the technical conditions of the operation of the Party and its bodies, manages the Party`s assets and represents the Party in a predetermined scope.

(2) The Director shall:

a) prepare the draft of the annual budget and the draft of the budgetary report for the Governing Board and make proposals on the Party`s asset management policy;

b) be responsible for the observance of the approved budget, for enforcing compliance with the budget, and authorize payments within the framework of the annual budget;

e) request information from the Party`s organisations in order to carry out his functions;

f) attend meetings of the Governing Board in advisory capacity;

g) meet the personal and material conditions of the Party`s operation;

h) monitor compliance with the resolutions of the Governing Board  and the National Committee;

i) carry out the tasks that are delegated to his competence by the Governing Board.

(3) The Director shall be appointed and dismissed by the Governing Board at the proposal of the Party`s Chair.

(4) The Director shall account for his activities to the National Committee on an annual basis.

 

IX. DISCIPLINARY and ethical RULES

§ 29  The Ethical Committee is entitled to establish ethical and disciplinary offences for the members of the Party and impose ethical and disciplinary penalties.

§ 30 The members and the procedure of the Ethical Committee

(1) The Ethical Committee shall consist of three members. In the ethical procedure conducted against a member of the Ethical Committee, the National Committee shall appoint a substitute member for the procedure.

(2) Any member who is supported by at least 2 Regional Organisations, or the National Committee, or 10 % of the members of the Party by written recommendation may be elected as member of the Ethical Committee by the Party Conference.

(3) The office of the member of the Ethical Committee shall terminate:

a) in case of resignation;

b) in the event of death;

c) in case of the termination of membership;

d) on the day of the Official Elections Meeting.

(4) The Ethical Committee shall conduct its procedure ex officio, or at the initiative of five members of the Party. The Ethical Committee is required to open its procedure within 5 days of receiving the request addressed to it. The procedure must be concluded within 15 days from the date of opening. If the procedure cannot be concluded for objective reasons, the procedure may be extended by the necessary time not exceeding 30 days.

(5) The Ethical Committee shall hear the party initiating the procedure (if the procedure is not opened ex officio) and the member subject to the procedure as well.

(6) The Ethical Committee must provide reasoning for its decision, render decisions in writing and send those to the concerned parties.

(7) Appeal may be filed in writing against the ethical or disciplinary resolution holding the member liable within 8 days of the receipt of the resolution. The appeal against the decision of the Ethical Committee shall be adjudicated on the second instance by the National Committee. No appeal is available against the ethical or disciplinary decision rendered on the second instance.

(8) As the result of the evaluation of the appeal, the National Committee shall

a) sustain the first-instance decision,

b) amend the imposed penalty, if it is not commensurate with the committed offense,

c) repeal the first-instance decision, if the committed act is not an ethical or disciplinary offense, or if the procedural rules have been violated. In case of an infringement of the procedural rules, the National Committee shall order the Ethical Committee to conduct a new procedure. 

§ 31 Ethical and disciplinary offence

(1) Ethical office is committed by the member who:

a) commits an act that damages the Party's credibility,

b) exhibits behaviour that infringes the Party's internal rules, guidelines or organisational culture.

(2) In case of establishing that an ethical offense has been committed, the following penalties may be imposed:

a) warning,

b) reprimand,

c) in case of the repeated commission of ethical offence, all penalties imposable for committing disciplinary offenses may be applied, with the exception of exclusion.

(3) Disciplinary office is committed by the member who:

a) wilfully or by gross negligence commits a crime, or exhibits other illegal conduct, which is suitable for damaging Party's credibility or good reputation;

b) fails to inform the chair of the Regional Organisation of new circumstances, which would make his admission as members impossible;

c) wilfully infringes the Party's internal rules, guidelines or organisational culture;

d) acts or issues declarations in contravention of the Party's strategic decisions;

e) discloses or arbitrarily transfers confidential information to other political organisations;

f) intentionally or by gross negligent violates the provisions of the Charter.

g) knowingly initiates unfounded disciplinary or ethical procedure.

(4) Upon establishing that a disciplinary offense has been committed, the following penalties may be imposed:

a) reprimand,

b) imposing supplementary membership fee not exceeding the amount of the 12-monthly membership fee,

c) exclusion from the Party.

(5) If the Ethical Committee imposes a punishment specified in sections (4) a)-c) on the Party`s Chair or Vice Chairs, the Chair or the Vice Chairs may file an appeal to the Party Conference via the Governing Board within 8 days of the receipt of the decision.

 

X. MISCELLANEOUS provisions

§ 32 If there is no competent Regional Organisation, the Governing Board shall directly carry out the tasks pertinent to the registration and admission of members. Until the foundation of Regional Organisations, the Governing Board shall be responsible for coordinating the admission and registration of the members and facilitating the establishment of the Regional Organisations.

§ 33 The membership fee payable in the year of the Party`s foundation shall be determined by the inaugural Party Conference. The first membership fee must be paid by the founding members to the Party within 30 days of the court registration of the Party.

§ 34

(1) Until the establishment of least ten regional organisations, the full membership of the Party shall attend the Party Conference.

(2) The members of the first Governing Board, National Committee, and Ethical Committee and the first Chair of the Party shall be elected by the Inaugural Party Conference from among the founding members.

 

Dated in Budapest on 13 April, 2013