Article Id: dreas153_n_96001 Document Id: 0dvu8xf00fobu9 Insert Date: 08/08/96 Purge Date: 08/22/98 Publish Date: 07/13/96 Publish Region: East Asia Lines: 1143 Title: SRV: Communist Party Statute Promulgated Document Number: FBIS-EAS-96-153 Document Type: Daily Report Document Date: 13 Jul 1996 Division: SOUTHEAST ASIA Subdivision: Vietnam Sourceline: BK0608144996 Hanoi TAP CHI CONG SAN in Vietnamese, 13 Jul 96 pp 28-37 AFS Number: BK0608144996 Citysource: Hanoi TAP CHI CONG SAN Language: Vietnamese Article Type: BFN Subslug: ["Statute of the Communist Party of Vietnam" adopted at the Eighth National Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam held in Hanoi from 28 June-1 July] [FBIS Translated Text] Founded and trained by Comrade Ho Chi Minh, the Communist Party of Vietnam [CPV] has succeeded in leading the people in conducting the August Revolution that resulted in: the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam); in defeating various wars of aggression; eradicating the colonialist and feudalist regime; accomplishing the cause of national liberation and reunification; carrying out the renovation process; building socialism; and firmly defending national independence. The party is a vanguard brigade of the Vietnamese working class, a loyal representative of the interests of the working class and working people, and of the entire nation as a whole. The goals of the party are to build an independent, democratic, prosperous, and powerful Vietnam with an equitable and civilized society and to successfully practice socialism and eventually communism. The party regards Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought as an ideological foundation and a beacon for its activities aimed at developing the fine traditions of the nation, acquiring the quintessence of human wisdom, firmly grasping the objective law and the contemporary trend and the country's realities in order to come up with a correct political platform and revolutionary line suitable to the people's aspirations. The party is a close-knit organization. It is unanimous in its thought and action. It regards democratic centralism as its basic organizational principle. It practices the system of collective leadership and individual responsibility and the system of criticism and self-criticism. It promotes the love of comradeship and enforces a stern discipline system. It is united on the basis of the party's political platform and the Party Statute. The CPV is a ruling party. The party attaches itself closely to the people, respects and develops the latter's right to be master, and subjects itself to the people's supervision. The party depends on the people for its unit building. It is dutybound to unite and lead the people in carrying out the revolutionary undertaking. The party rules the political system and concurrently serves as a component part of that political system. The party leads the state and respects and develops the role of the state, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and various political and social organizations. The party operates within the framework of the Constitution and laws. The party incorporates the genuine patriotism with the pure internationalism of the working class and contributes positively to the cause of peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress of the world's people. The CPV is to be strong politically, ideologically, and organizationally; to regularly renovate and rectify itself; and to constantly improve its militancy and its ability to lead the revolution. CHAPTER I Party Members Article 1: 1. As revolutionary fighters of the Vietnamese working class vanguard brigade, members of the CPV must devote their lives to struggling for the goals and ideals of the party. They must place the interest of the fatherland, working class, and laboring people above that of individuals. They must scrupulously comply with the Political Platform, the Party Statute, various party resolutions, and the state law. They must engage in labor and must refrain from exploitation. They must satisfactorily fulfill their assigned missions. They must observe an ethical and wholesome life-style and maintain close relations with the people. They must subject themselves to the party's organizational discipline and preserve the unity and unanimity within the party. 2. On a voluntary basis, any Vietnamese citizen, age 18 or above, may be considered for party membership, provided that he endorses the party's political platform, the party statute, and other standards and duties for party members and that he proves himself to be outstanding and trusted by the people after serving in a grass-roots party organization. Article 2: Party members have the following duties: 1. To be absolutely loyal to the party's revolutionary ideals, scrupulously comply with the political platform, the party statute, party resolutions and directives, and the state law; satisfactorily fulfill their assigned missions, and absolutely obey any party order on work assignment and transfer. 2. To constantly study and steel oneself to improve one's knowledge, working ability, political quality, and revolutionary ethics; adopt a wholesome lifestyle; struggle against individualism, opportunism, departmentalism, bureaucracy, corruption, wasteful spending, and other negative phenomena. 3. To maintain close relations with the people; respect and develop the people's right to be master; care for the material and spiritual life of the people and protect the legitimate rights of the people; actively participate in mass motivation and social work in the areas where one's homes and offices are located; and propagate and motivate one's families and relatives to abide by the party policy lines and the state law. 4. To participate in the building and protection of the policy lines of the party and its organization; observe discipline, maintain unity and unanimity within the party; constantly subject oneself to criticism and self-criticism; be faithful to the party; participate in the recruitment of party members and in daily party activities; and pay party membership fees on schedule. Article 3: Party members have the right to: 1. Obtain information on and discuss problems concerning the party's political platform, statute, and policies and lines, as well as vote on party affairs. 2. Elect members, run for, or be appointed to leading organs of the party at various levels in accordance with the regulations of the Political Bureau. 3. Criticize and question the work of party organizations, or of party members, at various levels within the scope of their organization, as well as report, or submit, their views to the relevant party organs and seek answers. 4. Express their comments when a party organization evaluates their work performance, decides on their work assignment, or adopts disciplinary measures against them. Probationary party members are entitled to the aforementioned rights except for the right to vote, elect members, or run for leading organs of the party. Article 4: Procedures for party membership admission (including readmission): 1. Persons who apply for party membership must: -- Do this on a voluntary basis; -- Submit a complete and correct curriculum vitae to the party chapter; and -- Have references from two regular party members. In the case of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union organizations, the youth must already be union members and officially recommended by the executive committee of a basic-level youth union chapter and by a regular party member in order to be admitted to the party. 2. The guarantor must: -- Be a regular party member who has worked with the person applying for party membership for at least one year; -- Report the curriculum vitae, qualifications, and capabilities of the guaranteed to the party chapter and must be responsible for his/her sponsorship. If some points are unclear, they must be reported to the party chapter, or to a higher echelon for consideration. 3. Party chapters and party chapter committees shall be responsible for the following tasks: -- Before considering and deciding on the admission of a party member, the party chapter must verify the candidate's admission criteria and must solicit the opinions of the organization or society of which the would-be party member has obtained membership. Those admitted to the party must comply with the instructions of the Political Bureau concerning their political background. -- The party chapter must consider and decide on admission of party members on an individual basis. Once approval for admission has been endorsed by at least two- thirds of regular party members, the party chapter must submit a recommendation for admission to a higher-echelon party committee; once approval of that higher-echelon party committee has been given, the party chapter shall organize a ceremony to admit party members on an individual basis. --- The basic-level party committee must consider an application for party membership and if its proposal for party admission is approved by at least two-thirds of the regular party committee members, it shall submit this proposal to the next higher party committee echelon for consideration. -- The standing committee of the next higher-echelon party committee directly superior to the basic-level party organization or the basic-echelon party committee that has been vested with the power to consider an application for party membership shall decide on the admission of party members on an individual basis. 4. If there is no party organization, or there is a party organization but conditions for proposing a candidate for party admission are not yet ready, the next higher- echelon party committee shall assign a party member to propagandize, check on, and propose a candidate for party admission. Special cases shall be handled by the Political Bureau. Article 5: 1. The probationary period is 12 months and shall be computed from the day the party chapter confirms a candidate's admission to the party. During the probationary period, the party chapter must continue to educate and train the probationary party member, as well as assign a regular party member to help him/her make progress. 2. Upon completion of the probationary period, the party chapter shall evaluate the probationary party member for confirmation as a regular party member on an individual basis and shall also decide by vote, as in the case of admission. If a probationary party member is considered not qualified for confirmation as a regular party member, a recommendation must be submitted to an authorized party committee echelon so that the name of the would-be regular party member can be removed from the list of probationary party members. 3. The party chapter's resolution on the confirmation of a probationary party member as a regular party member must be ratified by a party committee echelon vested with the authority to ratify the admission of party members. 4. The length of party membership of a candidate shall be computed from the day he/she is confirmed as a regular party member. Article 6: The issuance and management of party membership cards, the handling of party members' records, and the procedures for transferring a party member to another place shall be set by the Political Bureau. Article 7: Requests for reduction in, or exemption from, party work or party activities filed on a voluntary basis by party members who are affected by old age or poor health conditions shall be considered by the party chapter. Article 8: 1. With regard to party members who skip party activities, are late in paying their party membership fees for three consecutive months without justifiable reason, lose their militancy, perform their duties as party members in an unsatisfactory manner, or fail to make progress even with the help of educational measures, the party chapter shall look into these matters and report them to the authorized echelon so that the names of the persons in question can be removed from the list of party members. 2. If a party member falling under the aforementioned category files a complaint, the party chapter shall report the matter to the echelon authorized to ratify the admission of party members for case review purposes. Chapter II The Organizational Principle and Structure of the Party Article 9: The CPV is organized according to the principle of democratic centralism. The basic points of this principle are: 1. The party-leading organs at all levels are set up through election and implement the principle of collective leadership and of individual responsibility. 2. The supreme leading organ of the party is the National Congress of Delegates. The leading organ of the party organization echelon is the congress of delegates or the congress of party members. In between two congresses, the leading organ of the party is the Party Central Committee and the leading organ of each echelon is the executive committee of the party chapter or the primary party organization (abbreviated as party committees). 3. Party committees at all echelons must report on and be accountable for their activities before the congresses of their echelons and to the party committees of both higher and lower echelons, must keep subordinate party organizations informed of their activities on a regular basis, and must practice criticism and self-criticism. 4. Party organizations and party members must implement party resolutions. The minority must submit itself to the majority. Lower-echelon organizations must submit themselves to higher-echelon organizations. Individuals must submit themselves to the organization. All organizations within the party must submit themselves to the National Congress of Delegates and to the Party Central Committee. 5. Resolutions of the party's leading organs must be approved through majority votes by these organs. Prior to voting, party members are allowed to fully express their views. Party members holding minority views have the right to their opinion and to report it to higher party echelons up to the National Congress of Delegates. They must, however, implement resolutions scrupulously and must not propagate their opinions at variance with the party resolutions. Party committee echelons are authorized to study and review these views; no discriminatory treatment shall be applied against party members holding minority views. 6. Party organizations determine issues of their jurisdiction that do not conflict with the principles, lines, and policies of the party, the state law, and the resolutions of higher echelons. Article 10: 1. The party organizational system is set up in accordance with the state organizational system. 2. Basic party organizations are set up at administrative, occupational, economic, or work units and are placed under the leadership of party committees of districts, wards, towns, and cities subordinate to provinces. Party organizations in the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Security Force are set up according to the stipulations in Chapter VI. The setting up of party organizations in places with unique characteristics shall be determined by the party Central Committee Political Bureau. 3. The establishment or disbandment of a party organization is decided by the next higher party committee echelon. Article 11: 1. Party committees convene congresses at the end of their tenure; they shall inform the lower echelons of the time and agenda of these congresses in advance. 2. Party committee echelons who convene the congresses will decide on the number of delegates and distribute delegates among subordinate party organizations depending on the number of party members, number of subordinate party organizations, and the importance of each party organization as directed by the party Central Committee Political Bureau. 3. Delegates to congresses include members of the executive committee who convene the congresses and those delegates elected by lower-level congresses. 4. The nomination of delegates will be made only by those party organizations that operate under special conditions and are unable to hold congresses to elect delegates as prescribed by the party Central Committee Political Bureau 5. Delegates to congresses must be reviewed by the congresses with regard to their qualifications and then be voted on for acceptance. Party committee echelons who convene the congresses may not reject the qualifications of those delegates elected by lower-level party organization congresses, except in cases when the delegates are suspended from the activities of the party or party committee, prosecuted before a court of law, or temporarily detained. 6. Party congresses are valid only when two-thirds of the convened party delegates or members have attended to represent at least two-thirds of subordinate party organizations. 7. Party congresses will elect presidiums (chairmen) to operationally control the work of congresses. Article 12: 1. Party committee members must meet the criteria for quality and competence and have a sound political background, revolutionary ethics, and a healthy life-style. They must seriously implement the organizational principle and activities of the party, party discipline, and the state law. They must possess adequate knowledge and be capable of participating in collective leadership, of fulfilling all work assignments, and of strengthening unity among cadres and party members, and they must gain the confidence of the masses. 2. The number of members of the party Central Committee shall be determined by the National Congress of Delegates, whereas the number of members of party committees at other levels shall be determined by the congresses of the related levels in accordance with the guidelines of the party Central Committee Political Bureau. Party committee echelons must see to it that renovation and successiveness are ensured and that progress is made at each congress. 3. The presidiums (chairmen) must organize and guide the election: -- Voters have the right to make remarks on or raise questions concerning candidates and nominees. -- The name list of candidates must be discussed and approved by a congress. -- The election must be carried out through secret ballot. -- A successful candidate must win more than half of the total number of voters by delegates convened or more than half of the total members of party organization and chapter. In case the number of successful candidates exceed the number required, those who have more votes shall be selected. If the successful candidates have the same number of votes, reelection shall be made to select the one with more votes. In this case, it is not necessary to acquire more than half of the total number of votes. In a case in which equal votes are obtained again in the reelection, the congress shall decide whether to hold another election. When the number of the elected candidates is lower than the required number in the first election, the congress shall decide whether to hold a second election. Article 13: 1. The former party committee shall transfer power to the newly elected party committee. The latter shall begin work after the election and immediately after the official recognition and approval by the next higher echelon of party committee. 2. Supplementation of party committee members shall be made by the party committee concerned and be approved by the next higher echelon of party committee. The number of party committee members after supplementation should not exceed the total number elected at congresses. Party committees at the next higher echelon can appoint a number of supplementary party committee members for the lower echelon when warranted. 3. In case of real need, the party committee at the higher echelon can appoint an additional number of party committee members at the lower echelon. This number, however, must not exceed one-third of the members elected by the congresses. 4. Members of a party committee who want to withdraw from membership shall be reviewed by the party committee concerned before submission to the next higher echelon of party committee for decision. For members of the party Central Committee, the executive committee of the Central Committee shall make a decision in this regard. Incumbent members of party organizations shall be terminated from membership in those party organizations upon receiving orders relieving them from their position or transferring them to other units outside their organizations. 5. For a newly established party organization, the next higher echelon of party committee shall appoint a provisional party committee for that party organization and shall see to it that this party organization must hold its congress within one year at the latest. If more time is needed, it must be approved by the next higher echelon of party committee . 6. For a party organization that cannot convene its congress, the next higher echelon of the party committee shall appoint a party committee for that party organization. Article 14: 1. The party committee at each echelon shall set up its staff organs in accordance with the guidance of the party Central Committee Political Bureau. 2. When warranted, the party committee can set up a subcommittee, a council, or a working team to carry out tasks. These organs shall be abolished when the mission is accomplished. Chapter III Leading Organs of the Party at the Central Level Article 15: 1. The National Congress of Delegates is regularly convened by the Central Committee once every five years. It may be convened earlier or later than scheduled, not exceeding one year. 2. The duties of the congress are to evaluate the implementation of the resolutions of the previous term of office, determine the party's policies and lines for the forthcoming term of office, elect a Central Committee, and supplement or revise the party's political platform and statute, if necessary. 3. When deemed necessary by the Central Committee or when requested by more than half of the subordinate party committee echelons, the Central Committee shall convene an extraordinary national congress of delegates. Delegates to the extraordinary congress shall consist of incumbent Central Committee members and delegates to the first session of the National Congress of Delegates who still meet eligibility criteria. Article 16: 1. The duties of the Central Committee are to organize the implementation of the party's political platform, statute, and congress resolutions; to determine the party's domestic and foreign policies, mass mobilization, and party- building work; and to make preparations for the National Congress of Delegates of the upcoming term of office or for the extraordinary national congress of delegates, if any. 2. The Central Committee regularly meets once every six months. In case of necessity, it can meet in extraordinary session. Article 17: 1. The Central Committee elects a Political Bureau, a general secretary from Political Bureau members, a Central Committee Control Commission, and a head of the Central Committee Control Commission from members of this commission. The number of members of the Political Bureau and the Central Committee Control Commission is determined by the Central Committee. The Political Bureau appoints its standing board. 2. The duties of the Political Bureau are to direct and review the implementation of the resolutions of the National Congress of Delegates and of the Central Committee; to decide on issues concerning policies, lines, organization, and cadres; to convene the sessions of the Central Committee and prepare the contents of these discussions; and to report its past work to the conference of the Central Committee or to the Central Committee, if requested. 3. The Political Bureau standing board acts on behalf of the Political Bureau to review the implementation of party resolutions; to prepare issues for submission to the Political Bureau for consideration; to direct the handling of affairs relating to socioeconomic development, national defense and security, foreign relations, party building, cadre-related work, and mass mobilization; and to handle the party's daily work. Chapter IV Leading Organs of the Party at the Local Level Article 18: 1. The congress of delegates from a province or a municipality directly subordinate to the central government and from district, precinct, town, or municipality directly subordinate to the provincial government shall be regularly convened once every five years by the party committee echelons of the corresponding level. The congress can be convened earlier or later than scheduled, not exceeding one year. 2. The congress discusses the documents of higher- level party committee echelons, evaluates the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the previous term of office, sets forth the tasks for the forthcoming term of office, elects party committee echelons, and selects delegates to attend higher-level party congresses. Article 19: 1. The party committee echelons of a province or municipality directly subordinate to the central government (abbreviated as provincial or municipal party committees) and of a district, precinct, town, or municipality directly subordinate to the provincial government (abbreviated as district, precinct, town, or municipal party committees) direct the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the congress of delegates and resolutions and directives issued by upper echelons. 2. The congress of provincial, municipal, district, precinct, or city party committee shall be regularly convened by the standing committee once every three months. In case of necessity, the congress can meet in extraordinary session. Article 20: 1. The conference of provincial, municipal, district, precinct, or city party committee elects a standing board, a secretary and deputy secretaries from members of the standing board, a control commission, and a head of the control commission from members of the control commission. 2. The number of members of the standing board and the control commission is determined by the party committee echelons in accordance with the Political Bureau's directives. 3. The duties of the standing board are to direct and review the implementation of the resolutions of the congress of delegates, as well as the resolutions and directives of the party committee echelons of the corresponding or higher level; to decide on issues concerning policies, organization, and cadres; and to convene the sessions of party committee echelons and prepare the contents of these sessions. 4. The standing board of a party committee echelon consists of one secretary and two or more deputy secretaries. It has the duties to direct the implementation of the resolutions of the party committee echelon, its standing body, or higher-level party committee echelons; to handle the party organization's daily work; and to convene the sessions of the standing committee and prepare the contents of discussions of these sessions. Chapter V Basic Party Organizations Article 21: 1. Basic party organizations (basic party chapter and basic party organization) form the foundation of the party and serve as the political nucleus at the grass-roots level. 2. Each basic unit (village, ward, town, agency, cooperative, business establishment, nonproductive unit, basic unit in the People's Army or public security service, and so forth) having three or more regular party members must establish a basic party organization. If a basic unit has less than three regular party members, the next higher party committee echelon must assign these party members to a nearby basic party organization to carry out party activities. 3. A basic organization of the party having 30 party members or less must establish a basic party chapter and party cells directly subordinate to it. 4. A basic party organization having more than 30 party members must establish a basic party organization and party chapters directly subordinate to the party committee. 5. In the following affairs, the lower party committees should seek the approval of the party organizations at the next higher level: -- To establish a party organization at the grass- roots level in a unit with less than 30 party members; -- To establish a party chapter with more than 30 party members under the grass-roots party committees; -- To establish a subordinate party organization under a grass-roots party organization. Article 22: 1. Delegates congresses or plenary member congresses of grass-roots party organizations are to be convened by the grass-roots party committees: once every five years for grass-roots party organizations in villages, wards, and village towns, and twice every five years for other grass- roots party organizations. Congresses can be convened earlier or later than the due time, but should be within one year for villages and wards and within six months for other grass-roots party organizations. 2. Party congresses will: discuss documents issued by upper party organizations; assess the implementation of party resolutions during the last office term; decide on tasks for the coming office term; elect party committees; and elect delegates to attend party congresses of upper party organizations. 3. Party committees of grass-roots party organizations or party chapters meet regularly every month and whenever necessary. 4. Party committees of grass-roots party organizations with nine or more members will elect a standing committee. A secretary and deputy secretary will be elected from among standing committee members. Party committees with less than nine members elect only a secretary and deputy secretary. Article 23: Grass-roots party organizations have the following duties: 1. To implement party lines and policies and state laws; work out objectives and political tasks for the party organization and party chapters; and lead effectively the implementation of the tasks. 2. To make the party organization and party chapters pure and steadfast in politics, ideology, and organization; observe the principle of centralized democracy; heighten quality of party activities; practice criticism and self- criticism; preserve discipline, unity, and unanimity within the party; educate, train, and manage cadres and party members regularly in order to heighten their revolutionary qualities and morality, consolidate their combat spirit, and enhance their knowledge and competence; and carry out party member recruitment work. 3. To lead the building up of the local administration, economic, administrative, and professional organizations, national defense and securities agencies, and social and political mass organizations into pure and steadfast units; observe state law; and develop the people's right of mastery. 4. To be close to the people; take good care of the material and mental welfare and rightful interests of the people; lead the people in participating in the building up and implementation of party lines and policies as well as state law. 5. To inspect the implementation of party resolutions and directives and state law to ensure that they are strictly enforced and inspect the observation of party statutes by the party organization and party members. Grass-roots party organizations, if authorized by the party organization at the next higher level, can decide to recruit or expel party members. Article 24: 1. Party chapters under grass-roots party organizations are organized on the basis of the workplace or residence of party members. Each party chapter should have at least three official party members. A party chapter with many party members can be divided into party cells. A party cell elects its cell leader or deputy cell leader if necessary. Party cells operate under the guidance of party chapter committees. 2. Party chapter committees lead the implementation of the political tasks of the chapter; educate, manage, and assign tasks to party members; inspect and execute disciplinary measures against party members; and collect and submit party dues. Party chapter committees meet regularly every month. 3. Party chapter congresses are to be convened by party chapter committees every year. If a party chapter does not have a party chapter committee, the party chapter secretary convenes the congress. If agreed by the grass- roots party organizations, a party chapter congress can be organized before or after the set time, but only within three months. 4. Party chapters with under nine official party members will elect a party chapter secretary and a deputy secretary if necessary. Party chapters with more than nine party members will elect a party chapter committee, party chapter secretary, and deputy secretary from among the party chapter committee members. Chapter VI Party Organizations in Vietnam People's Army and Vietnam People's Security Force Article 25: 1. The party has absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership over the Vietnam People's Army and Vietnam People's Security Force. It builds the Army and people's security force into forces that are: pure and steadfast in politics, ideology, and organization; loyal absolutely to the party and the fatherland; devoted to serving the people; and being the core force among all the people to firmly protect the Vietnam socialist fatherland, maintain political security and social order and safety, and participate in the national construction undertaking. 2. Party organizations in the Vietnam People's Army and Vietnam People's Security Force operate within the framework of the party platform and statute, party resolutions and directives, and state law. 3. Sections within party committees, within their function, assist the committees in guiding and inspecting party-building work as well as mass mobilization work in the Vietnam People's Army and Vietnam People's Security Force. Article 26: 1. The Party Central Committee Military Commission (or Central Military Commission for short) consists of members appointed by the Party Central Committee Political Bureau. These members include a number of Party Central Committee members serving in the Army and a number of Party Central Committee members outside the Army. The Central Military Commission is under the leadership of the Party Central Committee or, on a regular basis, of the Political Bureau. 2. The Central Military Commission makes proposals for the Party Central Committee to decide on issues related to national defense and security lines and duties. The commission leads the Army in all aspects. 3. The Political General Department is responsible for party and political work in the entire Army. It operates under the leadership of the Political Bureau, or on a more regular and direct basis, of the Central Military Commission. At each level, the political sections and political cadres are responsible for party and political work under the leadership of the respective party committee and the guidance of the political section at the next higher level. Article 27: 1. Party committees in the regular Army and border guard units at each level are elected by the congress at each respective level. These party committees oversee all aspects of all Army units under them. In special circumstances, the committees are appointed by the party committee at the next higher level. 2. Party committees at the military region level include the comrades working in military region party organizations elected by regional party congresses and comrades who are party committee secretaries from provinces and cities in the military region. The military region party committees lead the implementation of resolutions at the upper levels, national defense duties, and the building of the People's Armed Forces. They also cooperate with local party committees in implementing party lines and policies in the military region. 3. Military party organizations in each locality are under the leadership of the local party committee in every respect. At the same time, they must carry out the resolutions of the upper-level military party committee regarding duties related to all-people national defense and local military affairs. Political sections above the local units cooperate with local party committees in guiding party affairs, political duties, and the mass mobilization work of local armed forces. 4. Military party committees of provinces, cities, districts, precincts, and towns include the comrades working in local military party organizations elected by the party congress of the respective organization, the party committee secretary of the locality, and a number of comrades outside the local military party organization who are appointed by a directive of the Political Bureau. Article 28: 1. The Party Central Committee Public Security Commission consists of members appointed by the Political Bureau, including some members of the Party Central Committee working in the People's Security Force, some Party Central Committee members outside the People's Security Force, and some comrades working at the Central Public Security Party Organization. The commission is under the leadership of the Party Central Committee or, on a more regular basis, of the Political Bureau. The Central Public Security Commission makes proposals for the Party Central Committee to decide on issues related to political security and social order and safety lines and duties. The commission oversees every aspect of the Public Security Force. 2. Public security party committees at each level are elected by party congresses at each respective level, except in special cases where they will be appointed by the next higher party committee. Party committees oversee all aspects of their respective units. 3. The Public Security Force Building General Department is responsible for party affairs, political duties, and mass mobilization work in units under the leadership of public security party organizations. The general department is under the leadership of the Central Security Commission. The general department also cooperates with local party committees in guiding party affairs, political duties, and the mass mobilization work of local public security forces. 4. The public security force building section at each level is responsible for party affairs, political duties, and mass mobilization work in respective party organizations. It is placed under the leadership of that level's party committee and the guidance of the force- building section of the next higher party organization. Article 29: 1. Local public security party organizations in a locality are under the direct and comprehensive leadership of the local party committee and, at the same time, are responsible for carrying out the resolutions of the upper- level military party committee on duties related to maintenance of political security and social order and safety. Public security party organizations lead the building up of the people's security force and the pure and steadfast party organizations. 2. Public security party committees of provinces, cities, districts, precincts, and towns are elected by party congresses at each respective level, plus an assigned party standing committee member of the province, city, district, precinct, or town. Chapter VII Party Inspection Work and Inspection Committees at Various Levels Article 30: 1. Inspection is one of the leadership functions of the party. Party organizations must conduct inspection work. Party organizations and party members are liable to party inspection. 2. Party committees at all levels lead inspection work and organize inspection tasks to ensure that party organizations and party members observe the political platform, party statute, and party resolutions and directives. Article 31: 1. Inspection committees at all levels are elected by the respective party committee, and include some comrades in the party committee and some from the outside. 2. Members of inspection committee at each level, together with the chairman, should be endorsed by the party committee at the next higher level. The transfer of an inspection committee chairman to another position must have the consent of the party committee at the next higher level. 3. Inspection committees operate on the principle of collectiveness under the leadership of the respective party committee and the guidance and inspection of the upper-level inspection committee. Article 32: Inspection committees at all levels have the following duties: 1. To inspect party members, including party committee members of the same level who show signs of violating party member standards or party committee member standards while performing party members duties; 2. To inspect party organizations of lower levels where there are signs of violating observation of the party platform, party statute, party resolutions and directives, and the principle of centralized democracy, and to inspect the conduct of inspection work and observation of discipline within the party; 3. To assess and conclude cases of violation of discipline and to decide on or recommend penalty measures to the party committee; 4. To handle denunciations regarding party organizations and party members; to handle complaints regarding observation of party disciplines; 5. To inspect financial work of party committees of lower levels and of finance sections of the same level. Article 33: Inspection committees have the right to demand lower- level party organizations and party members to report or supply documents on issues related to the inspection work. Chapter VIII Reward and Discipline Article 34: Those party organizations or party members demonstrating good performance shall be rewarded as stipulated by the Political Bureau. Article 35: 1. Stern, appropriate, and timely actions shall be taken against those party organizations or party members found breaching discipline. 2. Forms of disciplinary actions: -- Party organizations may be reprimanded, served with a warning, or dissolved. -- Official party members may be reprimanded, served with a warning, or removed from the party. -- Alternate party members may be reprimanded or served with a warning. Article 36: Powers to discipline guilty party members: 1. A party chapter can decide to reprimand a guilty member or serve him with a warning. A grass-roots party committee can decide to reprimand a member or its subordinate party organization or to serve a warning and to dismiss a lower-level party committee member. Any grass-roots party committee delegated with the right to grant party membership can remove a party member from the party, provided that the person involved is not a party committee member of the same level or a party member under the management of a higher echelon. 2. Province, city, district, and precinct party committees or corresponding levels can decide on various forms of disciplinary actions against party members and can decide to reprimand or issue a warning to guilty party committee members of the same level. Party Committee Standing Boards can decide on various forms of disciplinary actions against party members. They can reprimand or issue a warning to any party member who is a cadre under the management of a higher echelon but who is not a party committee member of the same or higher level. 3. The party Central Committee can decide on various forms of disciplinary actions against party members, including those who are members of the party Central Committee itself and the Political Bureau. The Political Bureau can decide on various forms of disciplinary actions against any party members, including those who are under its own management but who are not members of the party Central Committee. 4. Control commissions from the district, precinct, and corresponding levels upward can decide on various forms of disciplinary actions against any party members, provided they are not party committee members of the same level. They can also decide to reprimand or issue a warning to those party members who are under the management of the party committees of the same or lower level. 5. Party committees and higher-level control commissions have the right to approve, change, or abolish those forms of disciplinary actions recommended by lower echelons. 6. When facing a dismissal order, a party member holding many positions may have one or more of his positions dismissed, depending on the severity of his offense. Article 37: Powers to discipline a guilty party organization: 1. The party committee of a next-higher echelon can decide to reprimand or issue a warning to a lower-echelon party organization. 2. Any disciplinary action calling for the dissolving of a party organization must be recommended by a higher- echelon party committee, and the decision on this must be made by the party committee at the next higher level. Such a decision shall be reported to a higher-echelon party committee and the party Central Committee's Control Commission for Information. 3. A party organization shall be dissolved only when it commits one of the following offenses: acting against party lines or policies or seriously violating the party's organizational and working principles or the state law. Article 38: 1. If a party organization or a party member is found guilty by an echelon having no jurisdiction to discipline, the echelon concerned shall refer this case to the responsible echelon for a decision. 2. In cases where a lower-echelon party organization refuses to take actions or fails to take appropriate action against a guilty party organization or party member, the higher-echelon party committee or control commission concerned shall, within its capacity, decide on disciplinary measures while looking into the responsibility of the party organization concerned. 3. Any disciplinary measures that call for dissolving a party organization or the removal of a party member from the party shall be recommended by at least two-thirds of the members of the party committee concerned and be decided by a high-echelon authoritative party organization. Article 39: 1. A guilty party member shall criticize himself before his party chapter and shall propose a form of disciplinary action against himself. If the party member refuses to criticize himself or is under temporary detention, the party organization concerned shall continue to look into the possibility of taking disciplinary action. When necessary, disciplinary measures shall be considered by the responsible party committee or control commission. 2. A guilty party organization shall criticize itself, propose a form of disciplinary action against itself, and report this to its higher-echelon party committee for a decision. 3. Before deciding on disciplinary measures, the responsible party organization shall hear the views presented by the guilty party member or by a representative of the guilty party organization concerned. 4. Any decision taken by a lower echelon regarding disciplinary measures against a guilty party organization or a party member shall be reported to the next higher-echelon party committee and control commission. If a guilty party member participates in many leading party organs, such disciplinary decisions shall be reported to those higher- echelon leadership organs in which that party member serves. 5. Any decision taken by a higher echelon on disciplinary measures against a guilty party organization or party member shall be reported to the lower echelon in which the guilty party organization or party member serves. In cases where there is a need for wide dissemination, the responsible party committee shall make the decision. 6. Disciplinary measures against a guilty party organization or party member shall go into effect as soon as they are promulgated. 7. Any guilty party organization or party member that does not agree with these disciplinary orders can, within one month of the date of receipt of the orders, file a complaint with the higher-echelon party committee or control commission concerned or with the party Central Committee. The settlement of complaints about disciplinary orders shall be carried out as stipulated by the Political Bureau. 8. Upon receiving a complaint against a disciplinary decision, within three months at the latest, the party committee or control commission concerned shall inform the relevant party organization or party member at the provincial, city, district, precinct, and corresponding level of the receipt of the complaint. The central level shall be informed within six months of receipt of the complaint at the latest. They shall consider and settle the complaint and answer the complainant concerned. 9. Pending the settlement of their complaints, the party organizations or party members facing disciplinary actions shall continue to scrupulously comply with disciplinary decisions. Article 40: 1. A party member inflicted with the punishment of undergoing reeducation without detention or harsher punishments must be expelled from the party. 2. When a party organization is disbanded through a disciplinary action, the party committee of the next higher echelon shall set up a new party organization or brief the remaining party members on the activities of the party. 3. A party member who was expelled through a disciplinary action shall not be reelected as a party committee member or appointed to the same or higher position within one year after the disciplinary decision has been made. 4. The termination of activities of a party member, termination of activities of a party committee member, and termination of activities of a party organization must be decided by the party committee or by an authorized control committee in accordance with stipulations of the party Central Committee Political Bureau. Chapter IX The Party Leads the State and Political and Mass Organizations Article 41: 1. The party leads the state and political and mass organizations through its political platform, strategy, policies, and lines; by its ideological tasks, organizations, and cadres; and by its supervision and control. 2. The party recommends qualified cadres for state agencies and political and mass organizations for selection and employment. 3. Party organizations and members working in state agencies and political and mass organizations must seriously implement the resolutions and directives of the party. Party organizations shall supervise the institutionalization of state laws and the objectives of mass organizations and shall ensure the effective implementation of these laws and objectives. Article 42: 1. In the elected leading agencies of the state, political, and mass organizations at the central, provincial, and municipal levels directly subordinate to the central government, the party committee of the same level shall establish party groups composed of a number of party members to work in those organizations. Wherever such party groups are not established, the basic party organizations of these organizations shall assume the leadership function in accordance with the stipulations of the party Central Committee Political Bureau. 2. A party group is appointed by the party committee of the same level. It has a secretary and, if needed, a deputy secretary. A party group works in accordance with the collective system and is responsible to the party committee. 3. A party group leads and motivates its members in organizations to implement the party lines and policies; maintains close ties with the people; makes recommendations to party committees on the orientations, tasks, organization, and cadres of those organizations; and monitors the implementation of party lines and policies. 4. If need be, party groups can convene a meeting of party members in those organizations to discuss party committee guidelines and measures to implement these guidelines. Article 43: 1. In the executive and juridical organizations at the central, provincial, and municipal levels directly subordinate to the central government, the party committee of the same level shall establish a party affairs committee to work in those organizations composed of a number of party members. Wherever such party affairs committees are not established, basic party organizations at these organizations shall assume the leadership function in accordance with the stipulations of the party Central Committee Political Bureau. 2. A party affairs committee is appointed by the party committee of the same level. It has a secretary and, if needed, a deputy secretary. A party affairs committee works in accordance with the collective system and is responsible to the party committee. 3. A party affairs committee leads, firmly grasps, and organizes the implementation of the party lines and policies; makes recommendations to party committees on the orientations, tasks, organization, and cadres of those organizations; and monitors the implementation of party lines and policies Chapter X The Party Leads the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Article 44: 1. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is a reliable reserve unit of the party that regularly supplements the party with young forces; carries on the glorious revolutionary cause of the party and President Ho Chi Minh; serves as a core force in the youth movement; and is a socialist school and a representative of the youth's interests. It bears the responsibility for the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Teenager Unit. 2. Party committees directly supervise youth organizations at the same level on orientations, tasks, ideology, organization, and cadres. Article 45: Party members who are still within the age groups of the youth union must perform their activities and work in the youth union organizations. Chapter XI Finances of the Party Article 46: 1. The finances of the party consist of party dues paid by its members, incomes derived from production enterprises and occupational units of the party, the state budget, and other revenues. 2. The party Central Committee Political Bureau will stipulate unified principles and systems for the management of the party's finances, assets, and dues paid by party members. 3. Party committees at all levels will hold an annual meeting to hear reports on and decide the financial tasks of their levels. Chapter XII Implementation of the Party Statutes Article 47: All party organizations and members must seriously implement the party statutes. Article 48: Only the National Congress of Party Delegates is empowered to revise the party statutes.