Guidelines and Rules

Pre-Convention Discussion Period

CPUSA 29^th National Convention

The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) is conducting a period of discussion to engage party members, allies, friends and the public in a deliberation of party policy, politics, and the issues of the day leading up to its 29th National Convention, May 21-23, 2010. The Pre-Convention discussion period runs from January 21 to May 21.

The National Committee has produced four main discussion documents to get the ball rolling. “U.S. Politics at a Transition Point” is the main discussion document. In addition, there is a document on party building, one on the party’s program and strategic policy, and one on international issues and foreign policy. Discussion of and responses to these documents are the baseline of the discussion period and are encouraged. Downloadable PDFs of these documents are available online. An email list will provide updates on discussion contributions and important information about convention organizing.

A booklet containing the four main discussion documents in English and Spanish and other key information will be printed and distributed nationally. Other contributions to the discussion can be printed from various electronic sources for local discussion in Clubs and Districts.

CPUSA members, bodies and collectives are encouraged to submit responses, essays, videos, audio recordings, papers and other contributions to the discussion in order to help determine party policy going forward from the Convention. Individuals, leaders and allies who are not members of the Communist Party are welcome to submit contributions. Priority for publishing documents and contributions will be for members and bodies of the Communist Party. Submissions may be sent to discussion2010@cpusa.org or mailed to Convention Discussion, Communist Party USA, 235 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011.

The name and district of the author must be included with all submissions. Non-members should include name, city and state.

Contributions in English or Spanish will be accepted. We cannot commit to translate all materials. All submissions should be thoroughly edited and proofread. Please attach a word processing file (Microsoft Word, or Open Office for instance) for text submissions. Text email alone will not be accepted. Most video and audio formats are acceptable. We may return poor quality submissions to be edited and formatted properly.

In addition, a members-only online discussion will be conducted on the cpusa.org website. Members must register for the discussion forums on the site. Once membership is confirmed with the District, the member will be free to participate. All members will be limited to three comments or contributions per day in the members-only forum to encourage wide participation and avoid any one person dominating. All Party rules and discussion guidelines apply in the members-only forums.

In addition to written submissions, much of the deliberation will take place in live discussions of documents and papers organized by Party Clubs, Districts, Commissions and the National Office. All discussions must occur through Party structures.

The Communist Party will provide various venues to facilitate discussion among its members but will not accept contributions that are offensive, profane, defamatory, racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-working class, anti-communist or violate the principals of the CPUSA Constitution. Personal attacks are not allowed. Members that repeatedly or flagrantly violate these guidelines may be barred from discussion venues.

In addition to the cpusa.org website, which is the main online venue for party discussion:

• Some shorter contributions up to 600 words on topical issues and current events may be published on www.peoplesworld.org or other venues;

• Some longer contributions and more theoretical items up to 1200 words may be published on www.politicalaffairs.net or other venues;

• Contributions up to 1200 words from party bodies and commissions and may be published on www.cpusa.org;

• No contribution should be longer than 1200 words or 7 minutes of audio or video content. Contributions larger than these limits here may be considered from Party Commissions.

• Final venue for publication will be up to the Convention Organizing Committee.

All contributions should be sent to discussion2010@cpusa.org for selection not to the individual venues. 

The Communist Party takes no responsibility for the opinions expressed during the Convention Discussion period. Those views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Communist Party, its leading bodies or staff members. The CPUSA Constitution, Program, and all its existing policies remain in effect during the Convention discussion period and during the Convention.

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