The Liberal National Oath
"I swear by God and by my honour that I do believe in
the principles of the National Liberal Party; I pledge
before God and my conscience to spread and propagate
these principles; I pledge also to safeguard the Party's
secrets and to carry whatever tasks assigned to me and
to put the interests of the nation and the Party ahead
of any other interest, and to be, before anything else,
a good citizen who respect the laws and regulations of
my country, and to defend with my blood Lebanon's
independence, liberty, and sovereignty".
The Constitutional Law
Amended
on the following dates: 19/2/1967,17/7/1987, /12/9/1998
Imperative reasons behind amending the modified
Constitutional Laws of 17/7/1987
The NLP was established in the fifties under
political circumstances similar to that prevalent these
days, locally and regionally.
Since then, the homeland had witnessed harsh events
that nearly shook the foundations of the Lebanese entity
(unity of the people and institutions, the outlook to
established and uncontested national facts, economic and
social structures and the elements of coexistence).
Furthermore, eleven years have passed since the last
amendment of the Party's Constitutional Laws took place.
During this period, Lebanon had undergone big changes
that have been reflected negatively in many ways on the
Party.
For these reasons, it became vital
to:
a-modernise and make the Constitutional Laws
more flexible to meet current and future events and
changes,
b- determine the stance on the most
important emerging matters,
c- state the principles
on which the Party's future policy stands (the
inconvertible view of Lebanon's lasting entity and its
distinctiveness ; the party's view of the Lebanese
political set up and Lebanon's role on regional and
international levels, especially concerning peace,
coexistence and interaction between nations; the view
towards the diverse society, human being and family and
the view towards modernisation and development needs
affecting Personal Stature and legal affairs; women
status; youth and health and environmental issues).
d- strive to consolidate democratic practices at all
levels of the Party's decision making process.
e-
allow qualified and skilled members to be in charge and
assist in cementing the structure of our institution.
For the above reasons.
And according to articles
28 and 38 of the amended Constitutional laws of 17-7-78,
the following new amendments were referred to the
Party's Executive Committee for discussion and
resolution.
Principles of the Party
Article One: The Party believes in Lebanon as
a lasting homeland for the Lebanese people and a
sovereign, free and independent State, within its
internationally recognised borders. The Party also
believes that the political system should be
parliamentary democratic one based on the separation of
powers, respect for liberties and human rights.
Article Two: The Party believes in Lebanon's
Arabic identity. But accepting Arabism should be a free
and enlightened choice since it is a cultural value and
framework for development and cooperation between Arab
countries and peoples. This free choice should be taken
aside from any other racial, religious or ideological
consideration.
Article Three: The Party
believes that Lebanon's international policy should be
based on the following:
- Membership of the United
Nations
- -Membership of the Arab League
-
-Membership of the Mediterranean Group of
Nations.
Article Four: The Party
discourages the politics of alliances. We call for
establishing the best of relations with the
international community, especially Arab and friendly
countries. These relations should be built on fixed and
clear bases and taking into consideration that each
country should respect the independence, sovereignty and
system of the other, notwithstanding non interference in
other countries internal affairs.
Article Five: The Party opposes sectarianism,
racism, feudalism, separatism, divisiveness, hegemony
attempts and doctrines that have in their core to melt
the Lebanese entity or terminate its distinctiveness.
The Party believes in national unity within diverse
society based on responsible liberties, mutual
recognition and acceptance, balanced partnership,
complete equality in rights and duties for all Lebanese.
No privileges should be given to anyone except that of
being loyal, qualified and ready to sacrifice for the
service of Lebanon.
The Party looks forward to the application of an
inclusive secular society and calls for building a
secular culture, reform laws of Personal Stature stages
gradually so as to reflect principles of justice,
equality and necessities of modernisation and
progress.
Article Sixth: The Party is of
the opinion that human being is the centre of the
ultimate value, the core and aim of everything. We
strive to create the suitable environment to allow
rising generations to develop according to their
capabilities and within conditions that allow for the
liberties of others to progress; notwithstanding rights
of the Homeland.
Article Seventh: The Party stresses the need
to adhere to freedom, human dignity, tolerance, justice,
equality, Lebanese heritage, traditions, human values
and religious and social ethics.
Article Eight: The Party believes in
democratic learning and calls for supporting public
education in all its stages and for consolidating
private education within a comprehensive national
education policy open to all cultures and adhering to
Lebanon's role in this part of the word. We call for
preparing a free, educated, responsible, creative,
productive, interactive citizen who is in harmony with
his or her society.
Article Nine: The Party works for the
protection of Lebanon's treasures and for best ways of
investing and distributing them justly on all areas
without favoritism. We give special attention to the
development and conservation of the Lebanese village and
for the halt of villagers' immigration to the
city.
Article Ten: The Party believes in
separation of powers and independence of the judiciary.
We call for the introduction legal aid so that justice
can prevail in the society.
Article
Eleven: The Party believes in the importance of
control agencies and the need to make them effective,
modern and linked to areas of development.
Article Twelve: The Party works to upgrade
social security for all sections of the Lebanese
society, especially the protection of the aged, disabled
and children.
Article Thirteen: The Party calls for the
reforming of the fiscal and tax policy to reflect
justice, transparency and objectivity.
Article Fourteen: The Party works to
consolidate the role of expatriates and the development
of stronger relations between them and the home land.
The Party encourages them to retain their Lebanese
identity and invest their financial, intellectual and
scientific resources to safeguard and assist the
progress of Lebanon Article fifteen: The Party
believes in the sanctity of its principles and the need
to provide all human and financial capabilities for
implementing them.
The Party Organisation
Article Seventeen: Powers in the
party are as the following:
1- Leadership of the
Party
2- Deputy Leader
3- The Higher Council
4-
The Political Council
5- Council of Trustees
6-
The Party Organisations
7- Sub-Committees
8- The
General Disciplinary Council
9- Commissioners of
Districts and Commissioners' Committees
10- Party
Committees
11- Heads of branches' Committees
12-
The General Assembly ( GA)
Joining the Party
Article eighteen: Party Membership is
divided into two categories:
One- Trainee
category. This for those who are between the ages of
fifteen and eighteen
Two- Actual Members category.
This is for those who have completed eighteen years of
age and it includes enrolled members and office holders
at the Party.
Conditions of Joining
Article Nineteen: All Lebanese, including the
expatriates, have the right to join the Party, with the
following conditions binding:
One - Application
should be made, where the applicant declares his or her
belief in the Party's doctrines
Two - An Application
should be endorsed by two officials of the
Party.
Three - The applicant should be of good
character and not convicted of a crime
Four -
Applicant should not belong to any other Party or
political organisation
Five - Applicant, upon
acceptance of his or her application should pledge his
loyalty by reading the Party's oath in front of the
Committee to which he or she made the application.
Following is the oath:
" I swear by God and by my honor that I do believe in
the principles of the National Liberal Party; I pledge
before God and my conscience to spread and propagate
these principles; I pledge also to safeguard the Party's
secrets and to carry whatever tasks assigned to me and
to put the interests of the nation and the Party ahead
of any other interest, and to be, before anything else,
a good citizen who respect the laws and regulations of
my country, and to defend with my blood Lebanon's
independence, liberty, and
sovereignty"
Article Twenty: The
application should be presented to the Internal Affairs
Secretariat according to administrative line of
management i.e. through the local branch where the
applicant lives, then to the commissioner of that area
or directly through the commissioner in case the area
has no local branch.
The Internal Affairs Secretariat has the right to
accept or refuse the application after giving the
reasons.
To review the refusal, an application titled
" A Review through the Internal Affairs Secretariat",
should be made after three months and sent to the
Council of Trustees, who should study it within one
month of being received.
If the refusal is final, the decision will be
binding.
To resign from the Party, a letter of resignation
should be written to officials according to line of
management or directly to the Internal Affairs
Secretariat.
+Article Twenty
One:
Concerning Rights and Responsibilities of
members:
1- All members have equal rights and
duties
2- Every member of the Party has the absolute
freedom of discussion and speech until a Party
resolution has been taken
3- Every member of the
Party, except if valid excuse was provided, to join the
professional and union organisations of the Party.
4-
Every member should pay the designated fees.
5- Every
member should behave in ideal manner at work and in his
personal and patriotic life so as to be able to
propagate and support the Party's principles in his
area.
6- Members who enter government or nominate for
parliamentary or local government elections without the
approval of the Higher Council will face the
Disciplinary Council.
Concerning Leadership of the Party
Article Twenty-Two: The General Assembly
elects the leader of the Party and his Deputy for a
period of five years open to renewal.
Article Twenty Three: Any member who nominates
for the position of leader or deputy leader should have
been in the Party for at least twenty consecutive years
and should have held Party positions for at least ten
years.
Article Twenty-Four: According to regulations,
two months before the expiration of the leader's term
and his deputy, an electoral committee presided by the
eldest member of the Higher Council should meet.
Membership of this committee includes:
1- General
Secretary
2- Head of Internal Affairs
3- The
youngest member at the Higher Council in his capacity as
secretary.
Duties of this committee
1-
Set the date for the elections
2- Prepare a list of
the names of the General Assembly and present it to the
Council Of Trustees
3- Send invitations to members of
the General Assembly no less than fifteen days prior to
the convening of the assembly.
4- Study nominees
applications and declare their names
5- Supervise the
election process and declare the results.
Appeals
1- Appeals against
election results could be made immediately after
declaration of results and until 2.p.m. of the following
day.
2- - A special committee comprising the General
Secretary, Head of Internal Affairs and Head of the
Disciplinary Board will study the appeals.
3- : This
committee takes residence during the period set for
appeals at the General
Secretariat.
Article Twenty Five: If a
member of the Electoral Committee failed to perform his
duties or if a vacancy occurs for any reason that leads
to the failure of the committee to convene the General
Assembly, the Higher Council should meet thirty days
before the expiration of the President's term and that
of his deputy. This should be done by a written
invitation signed by ten members of the Council. The
Council would then fill the vacant positions in
preparation for conducting supervising, and declaring
results of the elections, and accepting appeals.
If a member or members of the committee failed to
perform his duties after inviting the General Assembly,
the leader of the Party has the sole authority to
replace that member or members.
Same electoral rules are adopted when the positions
of leader and deputy leader become vacant for any of the
above mentioned reasons.
Article Twenty Six: The quorum for the General
Assembly meeting set for the election of the president
and / or his deputy is two third of the total number of
members of the General Assembly. In case there is no
quorum the General Assembly should, according to the
law, meet after one week of its first meeting. This
meeting will be considered constitutional with the
present of the absolute majority.
Article Twenty Seven: The leader and his
deputy are elected in two separate rounds of secret
ballot by majority of two thirds of the total number of
the General Assembly, in the first round, and by
relative majority in the second round. When the result
is a tie, the eldest wins. White or invalid ballot
papers are not counted in the majority.
Powers of the Leader
Article Twenty Eight: The leader of the Party Is the
head of all Party agencies and he represents the Party
and speaks and signs contracts on its behalf after
consulting the Higher Council.
Article
Twenty-Nine:
1- The leader of the Party presides
over the General Assembly, the Higher Council and the
Political Council. He invites them to meetings in which
he is the chair. He supervises and steers the operation
of the Party and ensures the applications of its
principles and policies. He also announces the annual
budget of the Party.
2- He appoints a third of the
Political Council's members
3- He appoints, after
consulting the Political Council, the general secretary
of the Party, who should have held Party, positions for
at least ten years. He can dismiss him
4- He
appoints and dismisses the secretaries, at the
recommendation of the General Secretary and after
consultation with the Political Council
5- He
appoints and dismisses members of the General
Disciplinary Council at the recommendation of the
General Secretary and after consultation with the
Political Council.
6- He appoints and dismisses
members of committees, at the recommendation of the
relevant Secretary.
7- He appoints and dismisses
Commissioners, at the recommendation of Head of Internal
Affairs and after approval of Council of Secretaries and
the Political Council.
8- He appoints and dismisses
his staff and advisers.
9- He announces, upon a
resolution by the Higher Council, candidates for
prominent positions in the government.
10-He
exercises his authorities that are included in the
constitutional laws.
The Deputy Leader
Article Thirty:
1-The Party has one deputy
leader whom is elected immediately after the election of
the leader in a special ballot. The same rules, which
apply to the election of the leader, are used to elect
the deputy.
2-He represent the leader and exercises
his power during his absence and the leader may assign
to him some tasks or some of his powers for a limited
period.
3-If the position of leader becomes vacant
more than six months before the end of his term; the
deputy leader calls the General Assembly to convene
immediately to elect a new leader.
4-If the position
of the leader becomes vacant less than six months before
the end of his term; the deputy leader takes over for
the remaining period.
4- If the deputy leader's
position becomes vacant more than six months before the
end of his term, the leader calls for an election to
choose a successor.
The Leader's Office
Article Thirty-One: The leader of the Party
appoints the manager of his office. He also appoints
specialist advisers (in this case he is not obliged to
choose these advisers from the Party).
The Higher Council
Article Thirty Two: The Higher Council is made
up of members of the Political Council, Council of
Secretaries, Head of the General Disciplinary Council,
Heads of Party Committees and Commissioners of
district.
Article Thirty-Three: the Higher Council
designs the general Party policy and exercises
authorities included in these constitutional laws.
Article Thirty-Four: The Higher Council
convenes once every fortnight or by an invitation of the
leader of the Party, through the General
Secretariat.
The meeting is considered legal with the
presence of absolute majority.
Relative majority
takes decisions. In case of a tie, the leader has a
casting vote.
The Leader, or in case of his absence
his deputy, can call for an emergency meeting of the
Higher Council. If both are absent the General Secretary
can perform this duty.
The Political Council
Article Thirty-Five: The term of the Political
Council is five years. This council comprises of the
following:
1- Leader of the Party and his
Deputy.
2- Former leaders of the Party and their
deputies.
3- The General Secretary and former general
secretaries.
4- Current and former ministers and
members of parliament.
5- Fifteen members, including
ten elected by the General Assembly and five by
appointed by the Leader of the Party.
Candidates for the Political Council should have been
members for a period not less than ten years and should
have had held Party positions for minimum of five
years.
Article Thirty Six: The Political Council
implements resolutions of the Higher Council and is in
charge of the Party's policy in general concerning the
legislative, executive and judicial authorities in the
country. It monitors the work of different Party
institutions and exercises all powers included in these
regulations.
Members of the Political Council are
accountable to the Higher Council.
Article Thirty-Seven: The Political Council
has the right to establish specialist committees to
assist it in its tasks.
Article Thirty-Eight: The Political Council
convenes once every week and whenever the need arises,
in response to an invitation from the Leader.
The
meeting should be considered legal if absolute majority
attended. Relative majority takes decisions.
In the
absence of the Leader and his Deputy, the General
Secretary sends the eldest among members of the
Political Council chairs the invitations and the
meeting.
Council of Secretaries
Article Thirty-Nine: Council of Secretaries is
the executive administrative authority in the Party and
is comprised of the following:
1- General
Secretariat.
2- Secretariat of Internal
Affairs.
3- Secretariat of Planning and
Steering.
4- Secretariat of Information
5-
Secretariat of Foreign relations and Expatriates.
6-
Secretariat of Education and Culture.
7- Secretariat
of Labor and Social Affairs.
If the need arises, new secretariats may be
established or existing ones may be terminated by a
decision taken at the Higher Council with a majority of
two thirds of the members.
Powers of Council of Secretaries
Article Forty:
1- It takes the decisions
necessary to implement the Party's general policy.
2-
It designs the Party's administrative policy and takes
the necessary practical decisions to manage its
affairs.
3- It issues the organisational decisions
and distributes it on different Party agencies and
follows up its implementation.
4- Plans the annual
budget for secretariats and all Party organisations. The
Leader presides over a special meeting of the Council of
Secretaries to approve the budget plan.
Article Forty-One:
The Council of
Secretaries convenes once a week and whenever necessary,
with the General Secretary being the Chairperson.
1-
The meeting will not be legal unless attended by
absolute majority.
2- Relative majority takes
decisions. In case of tie, the General Secretary has a
casting vote.
3- The General Secretary and the
relevant Secretary sign decisions.
4- Secretary of
Information takes the minutes of the meetings and keeps
it at the General Secretariat.
5- In case Secretary
of Information is absent, the General Secretary assigns
this task temporarily to a secretary attending the
meeting.
Powers of Secretaries
Article Forty-Two:
1- Every Secretary
presides over his organisation. A committee of five
members appointed by the Leader, recommended by the
Secretary, and after consulting the Council of
Secretaries assists the Secretary in his tasks.
2- He
issues statements and necessary instructions to manage
his secretariat affairs
3- Coordinates with the Party
agencies and secretariats.
4- Plans an agenda for his
department and present it to the Council of
Secretaries.
5- Prepares the annual budget for his
secretariat and presents it to the Council of
Secretaries through the General Secretariat, three
months before the end of the year.
6- Assigns tasks
to his assistants.
7- In case a Secretary is absent,
the General Secretary asks another one to take over for
the period of his absence.
Secretaries' individual and collective
responsibilities
Article Forty-Three: The Council of Secretaries is
collectively accountable to the Higher Council but
members, as individuals are accountable to the Leader
alone.
The General Secretariat
Article Forty-Four:
The General
Secretary:
The General Secretary has the following
powers:
1- Presides over the Council of Secretaries
and represents it at the Political Council.
2-
Coordinates between secretariats and ensures work is
being done properly.
3- Controls Party organizations
that do not belong to a specific secretariat, after
informing the Council of Secretaries, and the Leader's
approval.
4- Organises sessions of the Higher
Council, Political Council, Council of Secretaries, and
the General Assembly and keeps the minutes.
5-
Organises Party decisions, files inducements and keeps
them.
6- Monitors Party agencies, receives complaints
and investigates them for the purpose of improving the
Party's performance.
7- Represents the Party on
different government and other Party levels in
Lebanon.
8- Suggests to the Leader the appointment of
Head of Electoral Department and supervises him.
9-
Exercises, in a broader way, powers awarded to him
according to these regulations.
Secretariat of Internal Affairs
Article Forty-Five:
Secretary of Internal
Affairs has the following powers:
1- Studies
applications to join the Party;
2- Decides the
geographical divisions of the commissions after the
approval of Council Of Secretaries
3- Proposes names
of commissioners and present them to the Leader after
the approval of Council of Secretaries.
4- Appoints,
after recommendation of the commissioner, heads and
members of branches. He dismisses them in the same
way.
5- Establishes the Party's branches, after a
proposal from the commissioner and approval of Council
of Secretaries.
6- Takes charge of Party Statistics
and enrollment.
7- Prepares a list in the names of
the General Assembly members.
8- Refers complaints to
the Disciplinary Board.
9- Organise Party grassroots
and employs its capabilities in uniform and effective
agencies.
Secretariat of Planning and Steering
Article Forty-Six
This Secretariat has the
following powers:
1- Propagate and defend principles
of the Party and its decisions.
2- Consolidates good
citizenship, loyalty to the Homeland, and good
characters among members.
3- Prepares future plans of
the Party.
Secretariat of Information
Article Forty seventh Secretary of Information
is the official spokesman of the Party and has the
following powers:
1-Heads all information agencies.
2- introduces
the Party and defends its policies and propagates its
basic options.
3-Communicates with local and foreign
media in light of the general interest of the
Party.
4- Convenes press conferences to clarify the
Party's positions towards public issues.
5-
Coordinates with Party officials their press releases
that include any view that may be reconsidered coming
out of the Party or expressing its views.
Secretariat of Foreign and Expatriates
Affairs
Article Forty-Eight: The Secretary of this
Office has the following powers:
1-The Party's
foreign relations are his responsibility, and
communicate with Lebanese communities.
2- Takes part
in international activities that can highlight the
Party's role, views and principles.
4- Supervises the
organisation of the Party abroad and proposes to the
Leader the appointment of commissioners after the
recommendation of Internal Affairs and the approval of
Council of Secretaries and The Political
Council.
Secretariat of Treasury
Article Forty-Nine: The Secretary of Treasury
has the following powers:
1- Prepares the Party's budget in light of proposals
presented by different Party organisations.
2-
Controls Party's revenues and expenses and spends from
the general budget.
3- Receives donations to the
Party, after approval of the Higher Council to the
Leader's demand.
4- Propose the initiation of new
projects according to proposals put by relevant
Secretaries and the approval of their Council.
5-
Proposes new resources for the Party.
6- Supervises
the General Maintenance Agency.
7- Prepares a list of
Commissions and Branches assets.
Secretariat of Education and Culture
Article Fifty: This Secretary has the
following powers:
1- Implements the Party's Education
policy.
2- Represents the Party at local educational,
cultural and sport organisations, and coordinates with
Secretariat of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs in the
same context.
3- Proposes to the Council of
Secretaries educational, cultural and sport policy
4- Follows up affairs of educational institutions
and propagates the Party's policy in this area.
5-
Appoints and dismisses Heads of teachers, students and
sports organisations, after the approval of the Council
of Secretaries.
6- Monitors work of teachers,
students and sport organisations, and supply them with
instructions that are compatible with the Party's policy
in this respect.
7- Supervises teachers, students and
sport clubs elections.
Teachers' Organisation
Article Fifty-One: Teachers' Organisation
tends to teacher's affairs and pursues their issues on
all levels of education.
The organisation includes
Party teachers in all sectors and levels of
education.
This organisation is linked to the
Secretariat of Education and Culture and is accountable
directly to the Secretary.
Its powers are set
according to the internal regulations of the Secretariat
of Education and Culture.
An office manager, whom he
appoints after the endorsement of the Secretary, assists
its Head.
The term of the Head of Teachers
Organisation and his office manager is one year open to
renewal.
Students Organisation
Article Fifty-Two: Students Organisations
tends to students' affairs and pursued their issues on
all levels of education.
It includes Party students
in all levels and sectors of education. To enroll in
this organisation, article nineteen should be
observed.
It is linked to the Secretariat of
Education and Culture (SEC) and is accountable directly
to the Secretary.
Its powers are set according to the
internal regulations of the SEC.
An office manager,
whom he appoints after the endorsement of the Secretary,
assists its Head.
The term of the Head of the
organisation and his office manager is one year, open to
renewal.
Sports Organisation
Article Fifty-Three: This sport organisation
tends to sport affairs of Party members. It strives to
establish clubs sport and scout teams in districts with
the endorsement of the Council of Secretaries. It also
organises sport competitions against different clubs and
teams. It takes part in activities of Civil Emergency
Services and Red Cross campaigns.
It is linked
directly to SEC, and is accountable directly to the
Secretary.
Its powers are set according to the
internal regulations of the SEC.
An office manager,
whom he appoints after the endorsement of the Secretary,
assists its Head.
The term of the Head of this
organisation and his office manager is one year, open to
renewal.
Secretariat of Labor and Social Affairs
Article Fifty-Four: The Secretary of Labor and
Social Affairs Secretariat ( LSAS) has the following
powers:
1- Implements the Party's labor and social
policies.
2- Supervises the work of the Labor
Organisation and provide it with instructions that
complies with the Party's policy.
3- Coordinates with
charitable and human organisationsn and relevant
governmental agencies to provide assistance, medical
care, hospitalisation and social security to the needy.
It also provides care to the disabled.
4- Generally
monitors the industrial; situation, sets the Party's
opinion regarding social problems appoints heads of
cells and proposes to the Higher Council the nominees to
trade unions positions.
5- Supervises the
establishment of cells, encourages members to join
unions, defends rights of workers and strives to upgrade
their living standards.
Labor Organisation
Article Fifty-five: This organisation
strives to: provide work for the unemployed, cares for
workers' affairs, upgrade their standards, consolidate
ties among them, defend their rights, enhance their
relations with employers and unions, and strengthen
union activities.
Members of this organisation are
Party workers and employees. It is linked directly to
the Secretary of Labor and Social Affairs.
Its powers
are set up according to the internal affairs regulation
of the Labor and Social Affairs Secretariat.
The
Secretary of Labor and Social Affairs appoints and
dismisses the head of Labor Organisation after the
endorsement of the Council of Secretaries.
The head
of the Labor Organisation appoints an office manager
with the approval of the relevant Secretary.
The term
of the Head and Office Manager is one year open to
renewal
The General Disciplinary Board (GDB)
Article Fifty-six: The GDB is made up
of a president, two members and a representative of the
Party's Rights and they are appointed, for two years
open to renewal, by the Leader after being proposed by
the General Secretary and the approval of the Political
Council.
The Head of the GDB has the right, when
necessary, to establish special committees from among
members of the board.
The Leader has the right to
establish an Emergency Committee to look in to special
cases.
The representative of the Party's Rights acts
as the prosecution at the GDB.
Powers of the Council
Article Fifty-seven: The GDB pursues every
member who commits a disciplinary offence against the
principles or regulations or pronounced polices of the
Party. The offender has the right of defence.
Article Fifty-eight:
Concerning the
prosecution.
The GDB's right of prosecution and
referral is assigned to:
1-The General Secretary
2-The representative of the Party's Rights at the
GDB.
3- Secretary of Internal Affairs, according to item
eight of article fifty- four of this regulation.
Article Fifty-nine:
Concerning decision and
disciplinary measures.
1-The GDB issues its decisions
at the end of the court' proceedings. These decisions
are irreversible, although, the Leader of the Party
haste his discretion, the only right to issue special
amnesty, or to call for a new trial and, for this
purpose, the formation of a special committee.
2-Following are the sentences that the GDB uses:
a-caution
b-suspending membership for six
months
c-dismissal from the Party
Article Sixty:
Concerning the common law
responsibility
If it becomes known that someone has
been accused of actions that constitute a criminal
offence punished by common or other State laws that
person will be referred to the judiciary.
The public
right case remains independent of any disciplinary
pursuit.
Article Sixty-one: The Board, through the
General Secretariat, has the right to seek the support
of all Party agencies to gain approval and implement
decisions.
Article Sixty-two: A special regulation
will be set up to regulate the Disciplinary Board and
the process of trials.
Commissioners of District
Article Sixty-three:
1- The Commissioner
receives his instructions from the Secretary of Internal
Affairs. Assisted by a commission committee representing
the secretariat, he manages the Party's affairs in his
district. He exercises powers included in this
regulation and the Leader's instructions and decisions.
2- The commissioner is appointed by a decision from
the Leader and following a proposal from the Secretary
of Interior and after approval of the Political and
Secretaries Councils.
3- A "Commission Committee"
will be formed to assist the commissioner. Members of
this committee are called "deputies". They are proposed
by the commissioner and appointed by the Secretary of
Interior, following the approval of the Council of
Secretaries.
Article Sixty-four:
A decision of the
Secretary of Interior and the approval of the Council of
Secretaries establish local Party branches.
To
establish a local branch, the number of members in the
locality should not be less than twenty-five; if the
number less than that, a Party cell shall be
formed.
Every local branch has an office made up of
members who represent the commission deputies, and they
are known as "representatives". The Secretary of
Interior appoints them, according to a proposal by the
head of the branch and the approval of the commissioner
Concerning Party Organisations
Lawyers' Committee
Article
Sixty-five: A committee that includes Party lawyers,
who are members of the Law Society in Lebanon, shall be
formed. This committee has the task of preparing legal
studies regarding the subjects and projects that are
refer to it. It is accountable to the Higher
Council.
It will have an internal regulations that
should approved by the Higher Council of the Party.
Doctors' and Chemists' Committee:
Articles
Sixty-six:
A committee which includes Party
doctors and chemist, who are members of their respective
unions, shall be formed.
It has the task of preparing
health studies on issues referred to it.
It is
accountable to the higher Council
It will have an
internal regulations that should approved by the Higher
Council of the Party.
Engineers' Committee
Article
Sixty-seven:
A committee which includes Party
engineers, who are members of the Engineers Union, shall
be formed.
It has the task of preparing studies on
issues referred to it.
It is accountable to the
Higher Council
It will have an internal regulations
that should approved by the Higher Council of the Party.
Environment Committee
Article
Sixty-eight:
An environment committee shall be
formed at the Party to preserve nature and protected
from pollution. It strives also to preserve the national
heritage
It will have an internal regulations that
should approved by the Higher Council of the
Party.
The General Assembly
Article Seventy:
The General Assembly is
made up of:
1- The Leader and his Deputy.
2-
Members of the Higher Council.
3- Commissioners of
districts.
4- Commissioners abroad and members of
commission committees who are present to participate.
The number of participants should be taken when
calculating the majority.
5- Heads of
organisations.
6- Members of Secretariats and
Commissions committees.
7- Heads of branches.
*Members should pay their annual fees before the
first of September of each year to allow them exercise
their rights at the General Assembly.
Article Seventy-one: The General assembly
convenes by invitation from the Party Leader and under
his Chairmanship once a year in mid November. At the
annual meeting the policy and annual budget of the Party
are presented for discussion and approval.
In case
the Leader or his Deputy is absent, the General
Secretary has the right to invite the GA to emergency
meeting.
Article Seventy-two: Taking into
consideration the regulations governing the election of
the leader and his Deputy and the amendment of these
regulations, the GA' s meeting shall be deemed legal if
attended by absolute majority.
Relative majority
makes the decisions. In case of a tie, the Leader has a
casting vote. If there is no quorum at the first
meeting, the GA will be called to another meeting within
one week. The second meeting will be considered legal
regardless of the number of attendants.
Concerning the Party's Flag and
Anniversary
Article seventy-three:
1- The Party's flag
is made up of two parallel pieces: the first is white
coloured in the upper section, and the second is red
coloured in the lower section. A golden cedar appears at
the center of the flag.
2- The eighth of September of
each year is the party's anniversary
Concerning the Amendment of the
Constitutional Laws (Regulations)
Article seventy-four: The General Assembly has
alone the right to amend the constitutional laws
according to the following:
1- It is possible to
review the constitutional laws if proposed by the Leader
of the Party and supported by twelve members of the
Higher Council. The proposal should indicate the
articles and matters that are to be amended.
2- The
amendment proposal must be in writing and addressed to
General Secretariat which in its turn refers it to the
General Assembly. A special meeting of the GA will be
convened to discuss and vote on the amendments.
3-
Discussing and voting concerning the proposed amendment
should be the only business of the GA's meeting
4-
The GA's meeting shall be considered legal if attended
by two thirds of the total number of members.
5- The
amendment shall be deemed legal if it receives two third
majorities.
General and Transitional Rules
Article Seventy-five:
1- This amended
Constitutional Laws of the Party should be referred to
the General Assembly according to article seventy-three.
The GA has the right to approve or reject the
amendments.
2- This amendment becomes applicable and
shall be applied on new organisations and centers
following its approval by the General Assembly. The
Leader of the Party and the Higher Council has the
absolute right to assess and decide the implementation
of the amended regulation on the establish organisations
and centers which are still governed by the old
regulations.
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"
قسم الأحرار "
"
أقسم بالله وبشرفي أنني أؤمن بمبادئ حزب الوطنيين
الأحرار، وأتعهد أمام الله والضمير أن أنشر هذه
المبادئ، وأدعو لها، وأكتم أسرار الحزب، وأنفذ ما
يعهد إلي من مهمات، وأضع المصلحة الوطنية والحزبية
فوق كل مصلحة، وأكون قبل كل شيء مواطناً صالحاً
أحترم قوانين بلادي وأنظمتها، وأذود عن لبنان وحريته
واستقلاله وسيادته بدمي ".
النظام
الأساسي
المعدل
بتاريخ 19/2/1976
بتاريخ 17/7/1987
بتاريخ 12/9/1998
الأسباب
الموجبة لتعديل النظام الأساسي المعدل بتاريخ
17/7/1987
لما
كان حزب الوطنيين الأحرار قد أنشئ في نهاية
الخمسينات في ظروف سياسية شبيهة بظروف اليوم، محلياً
وإقليمياً،
ولما
كانت قد مرت البلاد، منذ ذلك الوقت، بمحن قاسية،
وتعرضت لهزات عنيفة زعزعت دعائم البنيان اللبناني
الكيانية ( وحدة الشعب والمؤسسات، النظرة إلى
الثوابت ـ المسلمات، البنى الاقتصادية والاجتماعية،
مقومات العيش المشترك ).
ولما
كان قد مضى على التعديل الأخير للنظام الأساسي للحزب
أحد عشر عاماً شهد الوطن خلالها تحولات كبيرة، وعانى
الحزب الكثير من انعكاساتها السلبية، أصبح لزاماً أن
نعيد النظر فيه بغية:
أ - تحديثه، وجعله أكثر مرونة لمواجهة
الأحداث والمتغيرات الحاضرة والمقبلة.
-
2 -
ب - تحديد الموقف من أهم المسائل المطروحة.
ج - إعلان المبادئ التي تقوم عليها سياسة
الحزب المستقبلية ( نظرته الثابتة إلى نهائية الكيان
اللبناني وخصوصيته. نظرته إلى صيغة النظام اللبناني
السياسية، ودور لبنان إقليمياً وعالمياً ولاسيما
بالنسبة إلى مسألة السلام والتعايش والتفاعل بين
الشعوب. نظرته إلى المجتمع التعددي وإلى الإنسان
والعائلة فيه. نظرته إلى مستلزمات الحداثة والتطور
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