The following "organizational principles" were published in the cult's newspaper in 1974, during their public phase. Although the party has been operating in secrecy ("underground") since 1976, the "principles" outlined herein are still being practiced by Newman and his followers (of course, promises of democracy and public accountability have long since been abandoned).

International Workers Party Organizational Principles

International Worker, October 11, 1974

Preamble

The International Workers Party must lead the working class, employed and unemployed, to international socialist revolution in this immediate historical period. While growing roots throughout the class, we as an organization must scientifically determine how the class struggle must be advanced at every juncture of the struggle-ever self-conscious of the extent of our own strength amidst the constellation of political forces.

The organizational principles of democratic centralism-a term so shamefully abused since this "ideal" came closest to it realization in the activity of the Russian Bolshevik party in the first two decades of this century-are essential for any organization that intends to propel itself into the position of class-wide leadership. Democratic centralism arises from the need to free the working class from the ideological and economic fetters of capitalism-given the current reality of vast differences in level of political and educational attainment among the class. Workers, even if skilled or politically experienced, do not become self-conscious class leaders the moment they join or begin working with a socialist organization. Rather, the development of their leadership capabilities is a process of political education-which must continuously upgrade the quality and extent of their contribution to the organization as well as their consciousness of this process. As new members develop their ability to consciously assimilate the working-class knowledge of historical reality through their organizing, they must be enabled to convey this developing competence throughout the organization. Thus, the most widespread political discussion and flow of task-oriented information is essential for developing cadre to realize their ability in organized practices. As developing cadre thus begin to sense their contribution as part of a fluid process, they will be taking on greater leadership responsibility-all the while upgrading their ability to creatively implement leadership initiatives. The leadership of the Party as a whole will thus be enhanced and an expanding core of mass-strike cadre will lead us to international socialist revolution.

To achieve democratic centralism in practice as well as in principle, we must dispense with two interrelated myths that have shipwrecked so many well-intentioned socialist organizations in the past: (1) that, in the absence of other qualified leadership, a single individual or small group of individuals must take authoritarian control of the organization, thus sacrificing democracy, for political expediency. This rationale is obviously viciously circular, for we cannot continuously produce competent leadership when the necessary process of political discussion and decision-making is choked off "at the top;" (2) that rank-and-file members must "give up" freedom by subordinating themselves to centralized leadership. This is a deadening fallacy born of bourgeois institutions (including most socialist organizations of today), which are incapable of evolving qualitatively. Indeed, to the extent that central leadership organs are able to exercise competent and coherent leadership, the organizing freedom and leadership of the membership at-large will increase tremendously, as the organizing power of the Party as a whole will be enhanced.

Party Rules

I.    The supreme body of the organization shall be a semi-annual plenary conference of the membership. The conference shall deliberate on the world political situation, the Party's intervention into the political arena, and any and all aspects of Party life and work, and adopt appropriate resolutions on tactics and organization (by majority vote if a vote is called for by any Party member present at the conference). The conference shall also be responsible for the election of the Central Committee and its chairperson (by majority vote if a vote is called for by any Party member present at the conference). Minutes of the conference shall be published for dissemination throughout the class.

II.    The Central Committee (composed of the principal leadership of the Party and led by the principal leader of the Party, the Party chairperson) shall direct the work of the Party between conferences. A majority of the membership of the Central Committee shall operate out of the national center and meet regularly; issuing minutes of all its meetings for access to the general membership. A plenary session of the Central Committee shall meet monthly.

A.    The Central Committee shall appoint the members of: the ideological organ (the newspaper/intelligence staff), and the organ responsible for directing the practical activity of the Party (the National Operations Staff).

B.    The Central Committee shall select two of its members to be leadership of these two organs.

C.    The ideological organ (the newspaper/intelligence staff) shall be responsible for the publication of the Party's political newspaper, whose purpose is as a propagandist, agitator and organizer of the class and party.

D.    The Central Committee shall also designate a national finance officer who will inform the Central Committee as to the ongoing budget of the Party.

III.    An essential prerequisite to the centralizing of ideological and practical leadership of the Party is the most widespread dissemination of responsibility throughout the Party. Dissemination of leadership responsibility-which is maximized to the extent that the central Party organs are able effectively to lead the Party as a whole-must encompass all Party members and every participant in the Party's work.

A.    Regional centers set up throughout the class shall have leadership designated by the Central Committee. It is the responsibility of the leadership of the regional centers to lead the work of the regional center and to ensure that the national center is fully informed of the mechanism and content of that work. Regionals will be responsible for raising funds for their own support and, in addition, an amount designated by the national finance officer to support national functioning. Regional finance officers shall be appointed by the regional leadership in consultation with the national finance officer.

B.    Locals set up throughout the class shall have leadership designated by the appropriate regional center. It is the responsibility of the leadership of the local to lead the work of the local and to ensure that the regional center is fully informed of the mechanism and content of that work. Locals will be responsible for raising funds for their own support and, in addition, an amount designated by the regional finance officer to support regional and national functioning.

C.    A Party member is one who adheres to the Party policy and supports the Party both by personal participation in Party work and financially through at least the payment of monthly dues, unless financially impossible.

IV.    These organizational principles shall be revised and amended at subsequent conferences, in accordance with the growth and evolution of the Party and world history.