CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS of  The Proposed
NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY OF LIBERIA
Prepared by The Organizing Committee August 20, 2001.

PREAMBLE

We, all citizens of the Republic of Liberia, first thanking God for guiding us as a people, and realizing that our own aspiration as a people can best be fulfilled by a total commitment to peace and justice, and being determined, to apply those principles to the governance of our society, do hereby resolve to establish a Political Party for the purpose of contesting elections in a democratic manner and organizing and/or administering the machinery of government for the promotion of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia and the furtherance of unit and justice for peace and progress in our land. Toward these ends, we solemnly make, establish, and proclaim this Constitution for the functioning, governance and operation of said party and the members thereof.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of the Party shall be the NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY OF LIBERIA (NFPL).

ARTICLE II: MOTTO

The Motto of the Party shall be: unity justice progress peace.

ARTICLE III: EMBLEM

The emblem of the Party shall be: The Party flag, colors red, white, and green, respectively, waving and gracefully descending toward the words “unity justice progress peace.”

ARTICLE IV: HEADQUARTERS

The National Headquarters of the Party shall be located in Monrovia, Liberia; the Headquarters of County party organizations shall be located in the County Headquarters; and the headquarters of the local chapter organizations shall be located in places to be determined by the local chapters.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY OF LIBERIA (NFPL) shall be opened to all Liberian citizens of 18 years of age and above who subscribe to the Principles of the Party, as stated in this Constitution. Membership criteria shall conform to the prescriptions of the Constitution of Liberia and the Elections Law of Liberia.

ARTICLE VI: PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES

 Section I: PRINCIPLES

The NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY OF LIBERIA (NFPL) shall commit itself to the following fundamental principles:

a. The promotion of national unity, democracy, justice and civil liberties, including freedom of association, of speech and of the press, of religion and of conscience;

b. the promotion of equal access to opportunities of education, medical care, employment, and social and cultural advancement;

c. the promotion of economic development within the framework of the free enterprise system with emphasis on the development of Liberian entrepreneurship and the encouragement of labor intensive foreign investment;

d. the encouragement of individual initiative and creativity and the protection of private and public properties;

e. the promotion of equality of the sexes;

f. the promotion and ensuring of honesty and efficiency in public service;

g. the promotion of free and fair elections under the principles of universal adult suffrage;

h. respect for and promotion of our national culture;

i. the promotion of regional cooperation and African Unity, nonalignment, international peace and cooperation.

Section II: OBJECTIVES

In the fulfillment of these principles, the NATIONAL FREEDOM PARTY OF LIBERIA (NFPL) shall prepare from time to time a party platform, select candidates and contest elections at all levels of government singly as a Political Party or in cooperation with other Parties or independent candidates.

ARTICLE VII: STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY

The organizational structure of the Party shall be as follows:

a. The National Convention,

b. The National Executive Committee,

c. The National Committee,

d. The County Congress/Committee,

e. The Territorial, City, Chiefdom, and District Organizations,

f. The National Youth Committee, and

g. The National Women Committee.

Section I: NATIONAL CONVENTION: Composition and Meetings

The National Convention shall be the highest Policy-making body of the Party. It shall consist of representatives of the various county party conventions and shall meet at least once in every six (6) years. Extraordinary meeting of the National Convention shall be held as to be determined by the National Executive Committee or upon the request of three (3) of the county party organizations. Members of the Executive Committee of the County Party organization shall automatically be members of the National Convention. The National Chairman shall preside over meetings of the National Convention and in his absence, the Vice Chairman shall preside.

Section II: FUNCTION OF NATIONAL CONVENTION

The National Convention shall formulate Policies of the Party, elect National Officers of the National Executive Committee, determine the procedure for the democratic selection of party candidates for elections and review the activities of the National Executive Committee, the National Committee and all other bodies within the Party. It shall make rules for the governance of the Party and ensure the implementation of such rules. It shall review reports and activities of the county and territorial district party organizations. It shall organize a National Convention for the selection of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of the Party.

Section III: OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Officers of the National Convention shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary/ and Treasurer. There shall also be standing committees established by the National Convention and the Chairmen of these committees shall also be officers of the National Convention.

Section IV: THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE

The National Youth Committee is an auxiliary arm of the party, and shall be responsible for mobilization and recruitment of memberships, etc.

Section V: THE NATIONAL WOMEN COMMITTEE

The National Women Committee is an auxiliary arm of the party also. It shall coordinate the activities of the party to the women of this country, etc.

ARTICLE VIII: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The National Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the National Convention and they shall also include the Chairmen of all Standing Committees of the National Convention.

Section I: FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The National Executive Committee shall have the primary responsibility for the implementation of the resolutions, policies and programs of the National Convention. It shall supervise and coordinate the day-to-day administrative activities of the Party at all levels and shall report to the National Chairman. It shall prepare the Party’s Annual budget and shall serve as the Party’s spokesman and shall liaise with other political associations or entities from time to time as may be necessary.

Section II: MEETINGS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The National Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month or as often as is deemed necessary by its members. Meetings of the National Executive Committee shall be convened at the request of the Chairman or by request of any other two members. The Chairman of the Party shall preside at all meetings of the National Executive Committee. The Vice Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman. The General Secretary shall serve as secretary of the National Executive Committee. The Assistant General Secretary shall act as secretary in the absence of the General Secretary.

ARTICLE IX: NATIONAL PARTY OFFICERS

Section I: ELIGIBILITY OF AND TENURE OF CHAIRMAN

The Party Chairman shall be a due-paying partisan who has been a party member for at least six (6) years. He shall be elected by the national Convention and shall serve a six (6) year term.

Section II: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTY CHAIRMAN

The Chairman of the Party shall preside at all meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Committee and National Committee. He shall assist the activities of all Executive Committee and the National Committee and ensure that the functions and duties of these bodies are efficiently executed. He, in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee, shall be chief spokesman of the Party.

Section III: THE VICE CHAIRMAN

The Vice Chairman shall be a due-paying member of at least four (4) years standing. He shall be elected by the National Convention and shall serve a six (6) year term.

Section IV: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VICE CHAIRMAN

The Vice Chairman shall preside over meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee and the National Committee in the absence of the National Chairman. He shall assist the Chairman in the performance of the Chairman’s functions and upon the resignation, death or removal of the Chairman; he shall assume the position of the Chairman.

Section V: GENERAL SECRETARY

The General Secretary shall be a due-paying member of at least six (6) years standing. He shall be elected by the National Convention and shall serve a six (6) year term.

Section VI: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY

The General Secretary shall be the head of the Party Secretariat. He shall be the custodian of all records and shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the secretariat, under the supervision of the Chairman.

Section VII: ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

The Assistant General Secretary shall be a due-paying member of at least three (3) years standing. He shall be elected by the National Convention and shall serve for a term of six (6) years.

Section VIII: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

The Assistant General Secretary shall assist the General Secretary in conducting the affairs of the Party Secretariat. He shall act as General Secretary in the absence of the General Secretary.

Section IX: NATIONAL TREASURER

The National Treasurer shall be a due-paying member of at least six (6) years standing. He shall be elected by the National Convention and shall serve a term of six (6) years.

Section X: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL TREASURER

The National Treasurer shall be the custodian of all financial records of the Party. He shall receive and deposit funds and shall keep accurate records and accounts of funds. He shall make disbursement of funds upon the authorization of the National Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XI: OTHER OFFICERS OF THE PARTY

shall be appointed by the National Convention as may be deemed necessary from time to time for the smooth operation of the Party.

ARTICLE XII: NATIONAL COMMITTEE

The National Committee of the Party shall consist of the members of the National Executive Committee and the County and Territorial Executive Committees. It shall meet at least once a year. The Chairman of the Party shall preside over all meetings of the Committees. The Vice Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman. The meeting of the National Committee shall be convened upon the request of the National Executive Committee or at the request of any three County Executive Committees.

Section I: FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE

The National Committee shall supervise the activities of the Party between party congresses. It shall adopt the Party’s annual budget, formulate programs at both the national and local levels and shall make interim appointments to the Executive Committee or Standing Committees as may be required for the smooth operation of the Party between conventions.

 Section II: NATIONAL STANDING COMMITTEES

The National Convention shall establish Standing Committees whose Chairman and membership shall be determined by the National Convention of the National Committee. A Standing Committee shall only be established to attend a condition, problem, issue or circumstance which is recurrent in the life of the Party. The Chairman of the Standing Committee shall be a member of the National Executive Committee. All Standing Committees shall report to the National Convention and to the National Committee and shall have the activities coordinated and supervised by the National Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XIII: THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT PARTY

There shall be a county party organization in at least as many counties as may be required by the Constitution of Liberia, the Elections Law and the Statues. Each county or district party shall have a convention corps of officers which shall include a county or district Party Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section I: COUNTY PARTY CONVENTION

The County Party Convention shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the County Party and the officers of city, chiefdom, and district party organizations and other members as may be necessary. The County/Party Convention shall meet every three (3) years and be presided over by the County Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. An extraordinary meeting of the County Convention shall be called at the request of the County Executive Committee by the request of any two-district organizations.

Section II: FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNTY CONVENTION

The County Convention shall serve as highest decision-making body of the County at the county level. It shall elect county officers who shall include County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. It shall approve a county budget prior to admitting same to the National Executive Committee and shall formulate county party programs within the framework of the programs of the National Convention. It shall fill vacancies due to resignations, deaths, and inability to serve as may arise at the county level.

Section III: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The County Executive Committee shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and the Chairman of the County Party Standing Committee and District Chairman. It shall administer the day-to-day activities of the County Party under the supervision of the National Executive Committee.

Secition IV: COUNTY CHAIRMAN

The County Chairman shall be a due-paying member of the County Party. He shall be elected by the County Convention and shall preside over all of its meetings. He shall hold office for three (3) years. He shall be the direct link between the County Party and the National Executive Committee.

Section V: VICE-CHAIRMAN

The County/Vice Chairman shall have the same qualifications as that of the County Chairman. He shall be elected by the County Convention and serve for three (3) years. He shall assist the Chairman in administering the affairs of the County Party. He shall preside over meetings of the County Convention and County Executive Committee in the absence of the County Party Chairman and shall succeed him in the event of his resignation, death, or inability to serve.

Section VI: COUNTY SECRETARY

The County Secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the County Party. He shall upon directive of the County Executive Committee and the County Chairman undertake the immediate implementation of the day-to-day activities of the County Party. He shall be a due-paying member of the County Party.

Section VII: COUNTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY

The County Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary General in the performance of the duties of that office. He shall be a due-paying member of the County Party and shall be elected by the County Convention.

Section VIII: COUNTY TREASURER

The County Treasurer shall be the custodian of all the financial records of the County Party. He shall make disbursements of such monies upon authorization and shall collect all party dues and other levies. He shall be a due-paying member and shall be elected by the County Convention.

Section IX: COUNTY STANDING COMMITTEES

The County Convention shall be empowered to establish Standing Committees to facilitate the smoother functioning of the County Party. Such committees may function only to the extent that their existence and functioning are compatible with resolutions, principles and programs of the National Convention, Executive Committee and the National Committee.

 ARTICLE IX: PARTY POLICY COUNCIL

The National Convention shall establish a Party Policy Council whose Chairman and members shall be appointed by the national Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Council to formulate draft platforms; party policy statements, resolutions, and position papers based on the principles and objectives as set forth in this Constitution and as the Party shall determine in accordance with the conditions and circumstances. All position papers and policy statements prepared by any and all organs of the Party shall be reviewed by the Party Policy Council prior to its adoption by the Party or any of its constituent bodies.

ARTICLE X: PARTY RULES AND REGULATIONS

The National Convention upon the adoption of this Constitution shall establish, within the framework of this Constitution, operating rules and regulations of the Party which shall be knows as the By-laws of the Party. Such By-Laws shall in all details be consistent with this Constitution and the Constitution and Statues of the Republic of Liberia.

 ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution shall be amended only by the National Convention by a vote of two-thirds of its total membership. A proposal for amendment must be presented by the National Executive Committee or at least three (3) county party organizations and must be fully discussed by the entire National Convention. No amendment shall be valid if it contravenes the spirit of the Motto or the Principles of the Party or carries implications of inconsistencies with the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.

ARTICLE XII: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

1) The First National Convention shall be held at a time to be determined by the Organizing Committee of the National Freedom Party of Liberia (NFPL).

2) The first set of elected national and local officers of the Party shall be exempted from the criterion of tenure within the Party.

3) Elections of national party officers shall take place after the adoption of this Constitution.