Standards of Conduct
Prepared By: Rob Brooks 11/7/2012[edit]
Certain standards of conduct are expected of various people in various roles in the party. It must be remembered that the actions of anyone occupying a role in the party reflects on all other members of the party, past, present and future. The level of scrutiny that different roles in the party are expected to attract rises depending on the role. Consequently, the level of responsibility and the impact of any possible breach of responsibilities also rise according to the role. Anyone that is a member of the party must understand that by voluntarily agreeing to membership, they accept responsibility and limits to their behavior. Anyone that occupies an elected role is also subject to scrutiny. The act of being elected does not give a person free reign to act. Quite the opposite, an elected person is even further constrained in their actions due to their greater scrutiny of the elected role and possible impact in case of breach of responsibility.
The following roles in increasing order of scrutiny and hence need for conformity are:
- Member
- Candidate
- Executive
- Leader / Deputy Leader
All members are expected to adhere to the Statement of Principles of the Party.
All candidates are expected to sign a candidate’s pledge.
All officers are expected to adhere to the oath of office.
All Leaders / Deputy Leaders are expected to have the highest level of scrutiny and are expected to be in full compliance and conformity with all policies, positions, and platform of the party without question.
From time to time, it may arise that a person in a role may appear to contravene their responsibilities either express or implied. This may happen because they voluntarily disclose it, or because it becomes known by the party in some way. It cannot be expected that the person that is subject of the possible breach of responsibility can be expected to judge themselves on their own without bias.
The party has certain formal mechanisms for dealing with possible breaches of responsibility which may be used in the case that a situation cannot be resolved amicably.
In any case where a person is singled out and become the subject of a possible breach of responsibility, the honourable thing to do is to offer resignation for acceptance from the role they currently occupy and allow a body of their peers to hear the facts and offer a recommendation of an acceptance or a rejection of the tendered resignation. It is also the responsibility of peers to recommend to the subject of the possible breach that this is the preferred resolution mechanism. In some cases, a serious breach will occur and the subject of the breach voluntarily accepts the impossibility to continue and will simply resign. In the case of a very grievous possible breach and where the subject of the possible breach is unwilling to tender their resignation, the procedures outlined in the Constitution, Bylaws, and policies and practices of the party should be followed formally.