Our Constitution

CLAUSE I: Name

The name of the Party shall be "Singapore People's Party".

CLAUSE II: Party Objectives

i. To Establish a prosperous, modern, dynamic, science based, culturally rich Singapore.

ii. To wipe out apathy and to create an environment where there is activity, innovativeness and initiative.

iii. To safeguard Parliamentary Democracy and to uphold the principles of democracy, socialism, justice and the Constitution.

iv. To establish a social system where there are adequate and equal educational and training opportunities for every citizen to advance himself or herself to the fullest of his or her talent and where there is dignity of labour, respect for the individual, national pride and self-reliance.

v. To strive for and establish an economic union first with the Federation of Malaysia then with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

CLAUSE III: Membership

Any Singapore citizen of not less than 18 years of age who subscribes to the conditions of membership and is not a member of any Political Party or Organization ancillary or subsidiary thereto whose aims and policies are incompatible with the aims and policies of the Party (hereinafter called "the Party") may be a member of the Party.

CLAUSE IV: Conditions of Membership

Election of Members.

i. Every member shall be loyal to the cause of an independent democratic Singapore.

ii. Every member must accept and to confirm with to the constitution programme, principle and policy of the Party.

iii. Application for membership shall be made in writing to the Secretary - General of the Party and shall be considered by the Central Executive Committee.

iv. It shall be the duty of the Central Executive Committee in exercising its power of election to consider carefully the suitability of the applicant for admission as a member, having regard to the objects of the Party.

v. An applicant shall be elected if a simple majority of the members of the Central Executive Committee present at the Committee meeting at which the election of the applicant is considered, vote in favour of his election.

vi. The Central Executive Committee may reject any applicant without assigning any reason therefore and its decision is final until revised by the Ordinary Party Conference.

vii. In the event of any applicant being refused election by the Central Executive Committee, any two cadre members may propose and second a resolution in accordance with Clause V at the subsequent Ordinary Party Conference that such applicant be elected, and if such resolution is carried by majority of the cadre members present and voting such applicant shall be deemed to be duly elected.

viii. Upon the election of a member, notice in writing therefore shall be given to him, and he shall be furnished with a copy of the Constitution of the Party and a request to pay to the Treasurer within fourteen days from the date of such request to pay to the Treasurer within fourteen days from the date of such request, the amount of his first subscription but not before, he shall become a member of the Party, and be bounded by the Constitution.

ix. If the 1st subscription is not paid within 14 days from the date of such request as aforesaid, the election of such member shall be void, unless he can satisfy the Central Executive Committee that the delay in payment was dues to sufficient cause.

x. All cadre Members shall have the right to attend Party Congresses to move and vote for resolutions at Party Congresses.

xi. Members who have proven their loyalty and rendered service to the Party and advanced to the principles and objectives of the Party shall be eligible for appointment as cadre members provided that the membership had been more than one calendar year.

xii. The appointment of members to cadre members shall be made by the Central Executive Committee.

xiii. A member shall be appointed cadre member if a simple majority of the members of the Central Executive Committee meeting at which his appointment is considered vote in favour of his appointment.

xiv. Cadre members shall have the right to attend the Party Conference and to vote for and elect and to be elected to the Central Executive Committee.

xv. The Central Executive Committee members shall not accept any salaried appointments whatsoever in any Town-Council(s) under the Chairmanship or control of any Members of Parliament of the Party.

Subscription

i. The annual subscription for members shall be $6/- or such other sum as the Central Executive Committee may from time to time prescribe.

ii. All annual subscription (except the 1st subscription of a new member as provided by Clause IV (a viii) shall be payable in the first month of each calendar year.

iii. If any member shall fail to pay his subscription within one month of such subscription becoming due, notice shall be sent to him calling his attention thereto, and if he does not pay within 14 days from the date of the posting of such notice, the Central Executive Committee shall be informed of such facts and if he does not pay within one calendar month from the posting of such notice, the Central Executive Committee may delete his name from the membership of the Party. But if anytime he gives the Central Executive Committee a satisfactory explanation he may, at the discretion of the Central Executive Committee and upon payment of all arrears, be re-admitted to membership.

Resignation of Members

Any member may resign his membership by giving to the Secretary-General one month's notice in writing to that effect, provided that any member giving such notice shall be liable to pay his subscription up to and including the current year in which such notice is given.

Discipline

It shall be the duty of the Central Executive Committee to safeguard the interest, objective and the constitution of the Party. If at anytime shall be of the opinion that the interest of the Party so require to consider the question of suspension or expulsion of any member or demotion of any cadre member, the Central Executive Committee shall appoint a Special Disciplinary Committee comprising at least 4 cadre members who shall not be Central Executive Committee Members with the Chairman nominated from Central Executive Committee Members to convene a special meeting for that purpose. Such member shall be given written notice by A.R registered mail (or its equivalent) that he may offer a written explanation or an explanation of his conduct to such meeting in person. After considering the explanation offered the Special Disciplinary Committee will summit its recommendation to the Central Executive Committee for consideration and action. An expelled member shall have the right to appeal to the Central Executive Committee or the Ordinary Party Conference or Special Party Conference, However a member who is serving his term as a Member of Parliament shall not be expelled.

CLAUSE V: The Party Conference

i. The work of the Party shall be under the direction and control of the Party Conference. Such a conference being called the Ordinary Party Conference, shall meet at biennially while the Special Party Conference, shall meet at such other times at it may be convened by the Central Executive Committee or at the requisition of at least ten percent of the cadre membership.

ii. The quorum for a Party Conference shall be at least one tenth of the total number of cadre members of the Party. In the event of there being no quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned for thirty minutes. On the meeting being reconvened after the adjournment should the cadre present be still less than one tenth the total number of cadre members of the Party, those present shall form a quorum.

iii. The Ordinary Party Conference shall be held upon the expiration of the term of office of the retiring Central Executive Committee, the date and time to be fixed by the Central Executive Committee.

iv. The Business at the Ordinary Party Conference shall be:-

a. To pass the minutes of the previous Party Conference.

b. To receive from the Committee a report covering the work and progress of the Party during its term of office together with a financial statement.

c. To elect the Central Executive Committee and to appoint auditors until the next Ordinary Party Conference. The Central Executive Committee elected shall convene the 1st meeting within three weeks to appoint a management team of the party as provided in Clause VII.

d. To decide on any resolutions which may be duly submitted to the Ordinary Party Conference as provided in (f) of this clause.

e. To decide what measure shall be taken in the furtherance of the Party aims.

f. To transact any other business or resolutions approved by the Central Executive Committee.

v. At least one calendar month before the date fixed for the Ordinary Party Conference, the Secretary - General shall inform all cadre members in writing of the date fixed for the Ordinary Party Conference, and draw their attention to sub-clause (f) below.

vi. Any cadre member desirous of moving any resolution at the Ordinary Party Conference shall give notice thereof writing to the Secretary -General not less than two weeks before the date of the Ordinary Party Conference and such resolutions shall be supported by not less than five percent of the cadre membership.

vii. The Central Executive Committee shall at any time for any special reason or on requisition of at least ten percent of the cadre membership call a Special Party Conference within two months from the date of requisition.

viii. Notice summoning a Special Party Conference shall be sent to cadre members not less than seven days before the date fixed for the Special Party Conference and shall state the subject or subjects to be discussed at the Conference. No other subject may be discussed at the Special Party Conference.

ix. At least fourteen days before the Ordinary Party Conference or seven days before a Special Party Conference, the Secretary -General shall notify all cadre members of the business to be transacted. In the case of the Ordinary Party Conference such notice shall include the Central Executive Committee's report's the financial statement of accounts during the term of office, and any resolutions which cadre members have indicated their intention of proposing under Sub-Clause (f) of this Clause.

x. At the Ordinary Party Conference, the Chairman of the Party and in his absence the Vice-Chairman or he is also absent then any member from the Central Executive Committee appointed by the Committee shall take the Chair. Every cadre member shall be entitled to one vote upon any motion, and in case of an equality of votes the resolution shall be declared to be lost.

xi. At any Ordinary Party Conference a resolution put to the vote of the Conference shall be decided by show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by an cadre member. Unless a ballot is so demanded, a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has on a show of hands been carried or lost shall be conclusive evidence of fact. The demand for a ballot may be withdrawn. There shall be no voting by proxy.

xii. The Ordinary Party Conference may be adjourned from time to time till the business of the Conference is concluded.

CLAUSE VI: The Party Congress

i. A Party Congress shall be held at least once in every two years and also at such other times as the Central Executive Committee decide.

ii. The business of the Party Congress shall be:-

·To receive from the Central Executive Committee a report on the work and progress of the Party since the last Congress.

· To decide on any resolutions which may be approved by the Central Executive Committee.

iii. At least three weeks before the date fixed for a Party Congress the Secretary General shall inform all members in writing of the date fixed for the Party Congress and draw their attention to sub-clause (iv) below.

iv. Any cadre member wishing to move any resolution at the party Congress shall give notice in writing to the Secretary -General not less than two weeks before the date of the Party Congress and such resolution shall be supported by not less than ten percent (10%) of the cadre membership.

v. At least one week before the Party Congress the Secretary -General shall notify all members of the business to be transacted.

CLAUSE VII: Management of the Party

a) Composition of the Central Executive Committee.

i. There will be a Central Executive Committee of the Party consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, 2nd Vice Chairman, Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary-General, 2nd Assistant Secretary-General, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and ordinary Committee Members. All members of the Central Executive Committee shall be elected at the Ordinary Party Conference. They shall be eligible for re-election. The Central Executive Committee shall have power to co-opt not more than six members to the Central Executive Committee.

ii. The First Central Executive Committee and appointed Cadre Members shall be co-opted by the Conveners on the adoption of this Constitution with amendments if any, and the inaugural meeting of this Party at which this Constitution is adopted shall be deemed to be the first Annual Conference of the Party.

b) Duties of the Central Executive Committee.

· The duties of the Central Executive Committee shall include the following:-

· To present to the Ordinary Party Conference a report covering the work and progress of the Party during its term of office, together with a Financial Statement and Accounts duly audited.

· To propose to the Ordinary Party Conference such amendments to the Constitution as may be deemed desirable and to submit to the Ordinary Party Conference such resolutions and declarations as in its view may be necessitated by political circumstances.

· To organize and maintain a fund to finance elections and to spread among the people the aims and ideals of the Party.

· To enforce the Constitution of the Party and promote its aims and take any action it deems necessary for such purpose.

· The Central Executive Committee shall establish Branch Parties in Singapore for such district at such time and with such constitution and standing orders as it shall deem proper. It shall at all times guide and control the work of a branch party in accordance with the policies laid down by the Party Conference and the objects of the Party.

· To maintain Party discipline and to make rules and regulations governing the appointment, duties and discipline pf cadre members and ordinary members.

· As a political party, the Central Executive Committee shall nominate candidates to contest in General election or by elections.

· Any candidate of the party being elected to Member of Parliament shall take compulsory contributions to the Party of an amount not less than 10% of the allowances of the Members of Parliament.

c) Powers of the Central Executive Committee.

i. The Central Executive Committee shall have power to appoint a member to fill any vacancy on the Central Executive Committee until the next Ordinary Party Conference.

ii. The Central Executive Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees with powers to co-opt. Such sin-committees shall be responsible to the Central Executive Committee.

iii. The Central Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every two months to arrange the affairs of the party and whenever necessary to examine the account books and Party records. More than 50% available Central Executive Committee members at a properly convened meeting of the Central Executive Committee shall form a quorum. Minutes shall be kept of all the proceedings of the Central Executive Committee.

iv. The Central Executive Committee shall have power to appoint, pay and dismiss servants employed by the Party.

v. The Central Executive Committee shall have power to appoint members of the Party as Trustees to acquire immovable properties for such time as it deems fit.

vi. The Trustees so appointed shall hold office for such period as may be decided by the Central Executive Committee. The trustees of the Party shall not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the Central Executive Committee.

vii. The addresses of immovable properties, names of Trustees and any subsequent change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

CLAUSE VIII: Amendments to the Constitution

i. Amendments to the Constitution shall only be made at the Ordinary Party Conference.

ii. The proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be sent in writing to the Secretary General at least 14 days before the Ordinary Party Conference.

iii. The proposed amendments shall be circulated to cadre members at least 7 days before the Ordinary Party Conference.

iv. Any resolution proposing the repeal, addition to or amendments of any of these Clauses at any Party Conference shall be null and void unless at least half the cadre members present vote in favour of such resolution.

v. No amendments to the Constitution shall be enforced or applied without the prior written approval of the Registrar Societies.

CLAUSE IX: Standing Orders At the Party Conference

i. No motion or amendment shall be spoken to by any person except the mover until it has been seconded.

ii. To any question, any number of amendments may be moved.

iii. Not more than one amendment shall be before the meeting at any one time. When an amendment has been moved members shall speak for or against the amendment and any member may indicate the terms of an amendment he may desire to but he may not move this further amendment until the amendment under discussion has been disposed of.

iv. An amendment which directly negatives the motion under discussion shall not be accepted.

v. Any amendment upon being carried shall be submitted as the substantive motion when it shall be competent for any member to propose a further amendment to it.

vi. Any member who has not spoken on a motion before the meeting may move "That the meeting proceed to the next business" or "that the motion be now put" on the seconding of which the Chairman shall, without discussion, immediately put his motion to the vote.

vii. When the Chairman is standing, no other member shall at the same time stand or speak.

viii. Notices of Motions other than those of a formal character shall be submitted to the Chairman in writing.

CLAUSE X: General

i. The financial year of the Party shall commence on the 1st of January and end on 31st December. Within three months after the end of a term of office, the Central Executive Committee shall call the Ordinary Party Conference and shall submit a report with a financial statement and the duly audited accounts of the Party during its term of office.

ii. The accounts of the Party shall be audited by an Auditor or two Honorary Auditors who shall certify the correctness of the Statement of Accounts to be summated to the Ordinary Party Conference. The Auditor or Hon. Auditors shall be appointed at the Ordinary Party Conference.

iii. Only the Chairman or the Secretary-General of the Party or such other persons authorized by the Secretary General can issue any statements to the Press in the name of the Party.

CLAUSE XI: Prohibitions

Gambling of any kind whether for stakes or not, is forbidden on the Party's premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

The funds of the Party shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in Court.

The Party shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.

The Party shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any good or services which adversely affects consumer interests.

The Party shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Party or its Office-Bearers, Committee or Members, unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

The Party shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purpose without the prior approval in writing of the Director, Criminal Investigation Department and other relevant authorities.

CLAUSE XII: Interpretation

In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration, which is not expressly provided for in the rules, the Central Executive Committee shall have power to use their own discretion. The decision of the Central Executive Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a Party Conference.

Singapore Democratic Alliance

SDA's Supreme Executive Council 2009/2011

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