Party rules

1 Name
The name of the party is the Common-Sense Nihilist Party (also known as the CSNP and in these rules called the Party).

2 Objectives
The objectives of the party are to:
2.1 provide practical help with the futility of existence;
2.2 completely transform everyday life into avant-garde art; and
2.3 carry out any other activities consistent with the objectives of the Party.

3 Powers
The Party has the power to:
3.1 use its funds as the Central Committee thinks necessary in payment of its costs and expenses, including the employment and dismissal of counsel, solicitors, agents, officers, and staff;
3.2 invest surplus funds in any way permitted by law on such terms as the Central Committee thinks fit;
3.3 to borrow or raise money from time to time with or without security and on such terms as the Central Committee thinks fit; and
3.4 do all things that may from time to time be necessary or desirable to give effect to and attain the objectives of the Party.

4 Membership
4.1 Anyone who accepts and abides by these rules may join the Party.

4.2 Membership of the Party begins when the Central Committee accepts and processes an application on an application form approved by the Central Committee.

4.3 Member numbers 0001 to 0013 are life members and exempt from the membership fee.

4.4 The Party must maintain a register of the names and addresses of current financial membership.

4.5 Members of the Party who are paid up for the current financial year and life members are eligible to:
4.5.1 nominate candidates for office or hold office in the Party;
4.5.2 vote at a Party Conference or a Special General Meeting of the Party;
4.5.3 nominate or stand as candidates of the Party; and
4.5.4 vote in the ordering of the Party List for general elections.

4.6 A person stops being a member when:
4.6.1 the Party Leader or Party Secretary receives their written or verbal resignation;
4.6.2 the person stops accepting and abiding by these rules, as determined by the Central Committee;
4.6.3 the person dies; or
4.6.4 the person has not paid their Party membership fee for one full financial year.

5 Cells
5.1 Common-Sense Nihilist Revolutionary Cells are the basic organisational unit of the Party. A cell is a collection of members with enough common interest to work together towards the objectives of the Party.

5.2 Cells must keep the Central Committee informed of their contact details and the names and account numbers of any cell bank accounts. No cell may operate a bank account without the written authorisation of the Central Committee.

5.3 The internal organisation of the cell is the responsibility of the cell.

5.4 Cell funds are all money received by the cell.

5.5 In entering any contract, undertaking any legal proceedings, or taking any other action, cells must not represent themselves as acting with the authority of the Party without the written authorisation of the Central Committee.

6 Membership fee
Applications for membership of the Party must be accompanied by the membership fee set by the Central Committee.

7 Party Conference and Special General Meetings
7.1 The Annual Party Conference is the supreme body and sets the political direction of the Party.

7.2 The Party Conference includes the Annual General Meeting of the Party. It must be held within three months of the end of the financial year at a place and a time designated by the Central Committee.

7.3 The Annual General Meeting:
7.3.1 elects officers as provided for by these rules;
7.3.2 receives the financial accounts of the Party for the previous financial year; and
7.3.3 provides a forum for any business consistent with these rules.

7.4 The time and place of the Party Conference must be communicated to all members at least one month before it is held.

7.5 The Central Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

7.6 The time, place, and purpose of any Special General Meeting must be communicated to all members at least seven days before it is held.

7.7 A quorum is half of those members booked into any Party Conference or Special General Meeting on that day.

7.8 All current financial members and life members may attend and vote at Party Conferences and Special General Meetings.

7.9 The Central Committee determines the business and procedures of Party Conferences and Special General Meetings.

8 Central Committee
8.1 The Common-Sense Nihilist Revolutionary Central Committee comprises:
8.1.1 the Party Leader;
8.1.2 the Party Secretary;
8.1.3 the Party Treasurer; and
8.1.4 any other officers of the Party the Central Committee may appoint from time to time.

8.2 The Central Committee must act in a manner consistent with the will of the Party as expressed through the Party Conferences and Special General Meetings.

8.3 The Central Committee my remove people from the Central Committee if at least 75% of the Central Committee vote to do so. The Central Committee must call a Special General Meeting to fill the vacancy within 21 days of the removal.

8.4 The Central Committee is the administrative body in all matters connected with the Party except for policy. It pursues the objectives and has the power to do any lawful act consistent with these rules.

8.5 The Central Committee may delegate any of its powers and duties to any committee or person, who may exercise the delegated powers and perform the delegated duties with the same effect as the Central Committee, subject to these rules and any terms and conditions set by the Central Committee. The Central Committee may revoke any delegation at any time.

8.6 The Central Committee must adopt and provide guidelines and objectives for all Party offices.

8.7 Any member may attend a meeting of the Central Committee unless the Central Committee determines otherwise. The Central Committee may grant speaking rights at its discretion.

8.8 The Central Committee meets whenever scheduled by the Central Committee.

8.9 A quorum for a meeting is at least half of the Central Committee.

9 Candidate selection
9.1 The Central Committee determines the procedures for selecting and approving candidates for public office, including the ordering of the Party List.

9.2 Approved Party candidates must sign and agree to abide by a contract between themselves and the Central Committee that set out the basis on which they stand as candidates.

9.3 This contract must contain:
9.3.1 an agreement to uphold and abide these rules;
9.3.2 an agreement to promote and abide by Party policy;
9.3.3 what happens if a candidate leaves the Party; and
9.3.4 grievance and disciplinary procedures.

10 Policy
10.1 The Common-Sense Nihilist Revolutionary Policy Committee is the Party’s policy-making body.

10.2 The Policy Committee comprises:
10.2.1 the Party Leader; and
10.2.2 any other persons the Policy Committee may appoint from time to time.

10.3 The Policy Committee may delegate any of its powers and duties to any committee or person, who may exercise the delegated powers and perform the delegated duties with the same effect as the Policy Committee, subject to these rules and any terms and conditions set by the Policy Committee. The Policy Committee may revoke any delegation at any time.

11 Decision-making
11.1 All decisions by cells and committees are made by a 75% majority of votes cast in favour of a motion.

11.2 The Central Committee may veto any decision by any cell or committee not required by law if the Central Committee decides the decision is contrary to the objectives of the Party. The Central Committee must call a Special General Meeting with the purpose of explaining the veto and making a new decision within 21 days of the veto.

12 Finance
12.1 The Party Treasurer acts at the direction of the Central Committee. At the first meeting of the Central Committee after the Annual General Meeting, the Central Committee must decide:
12.1.1 how the Party will receive money;
12.1.2 who will be entitled to receive cheques;
12.1.3 what bank accounts will operate for the ensuing year, including their purpose and access;
12.1.4 who will be cheque signatories;
12.1.5 who will be authorised to order goods and services; and
12.1.6 the type and frequency of financial reporting during the year.

12.2 The Party Treasurer must prepare a report for, and keep all books and records up to date for presentation at, the Annual General Meeting according to any relevant requirements.

12.3 The financial year of the Party begins on 1 July and ends on 30 June.

13 Common seal
The Party must adopt a common seal, which is in the custody of the Central Committee or any person it may appoint. The seal must be affixed in the presence of the Party Leader and one other person appointed by the Central Committee for the purpose.

14 Income, benefit, or advantage
14.1 Any income, benefit, or advantage must be applied to the objectives of the Party.

14.2 No member of the Party or any person associated with a member of the Party may participate in or materially influence any decision made by the Party about any payment to, or on behalf of, that member or associated person of any income, benefit, or advantage. Any income paid to a member or associated person must be reasonable and relative to that which would be paid in an arm’s-length transaction.

14.3 The effect of this section must not be removed from these rules and is implied in any document that replaces these rules.

15 Alteration of rules
15.1 These rules must not be amended or rescinded except by a resolution passed at a Party Conference or Special General Meeting by a majority of at least 75% of those present and eligible to vote.

15.2 No alteration to rule 2 (objectives), rule 14 (income, benefit, or advantage), or rule 16 (dissolution) may be made unless the Inland Revenue Department has given its written approval.

16 Dissolution
17.1 A majority of the members entitled to vote at a Special General Meeting may resolve that the Party be dissolved as from the date named in the resolution.

17.2 The resolution must be confirmed at a subsequent Special General Meeting called for the purpose and held no earlier than 30 days after the date on which the resolution was passed.

17.3 On dissolution, the property of the Party must be applied to the objectives of the Party.