Internal Regulations of the Federazione dei Comunisti Anarchici
(amended and approved at the 8^th National Congress of the FdCA — Fano, 1^st November 2010)

I — General

Art.1 — The Internal Regulations — as per Art.29 of the Statute — complete the Statute and provide further detail, and are designed to be a more flexible and adaptable instrument of self-regulation for the various phases in the growth of the organization.

Art.2 — The Internal Regulations are approved (as per Art.30 of the Statute) by Ordinary Congress.

II — Branches

Art.3 — A number of militants may form a Branch if:

1. they have the use of premises, known as “FdCA Branch premises”, which can allow sympathisers to gather round the organization on the basis of its political positions;

2. they have the capacity and ability to express, as FdCA, the organization’s political positions directly in their context, in other words if the Branch can be recognized as distinct from any other libertarian groupings which militants may belong to.

Art.4 — Within each Branch, dues are collected by the Branch delegate for the central financing of the organization; unattached comrades (i.e. without a Branch) may pay their dues to the nearest Branch or directly to the National Secretariat. The annual amount is established by Ordinary Congress. For students and the unemployed, different fixed amounts may be established. Payment of dues can be made in instalments throughout the year, the first being made during the first three months and the last before the end of the year. Failure to comply with this results in a suspension of relations between the organization and the comrade concerned.

III — Joining

Art.5 — New members are accepted into the organization after a continuous process of discussion on intervention, strategy and theory. It is essential that prospective members agree with the organization’s Theory, with the political positions expressed by the organization over the past year and that they frequent FdCA activities and meetings.

Art.6 — Discussion with prospective members on the FdCA’s positions shall be the concern of the Branch’s Commissions. The Branch must also arrange debates and seminars for the further study of strategic and theoretical matters.

Art.7 — In order to assist the Branches in organizing seminars and debates, the Council of Delegates must provide material to be used for the further study of strategy and theory.

Art.8 — When one or more comrades who are not in contact with a Branch of the organization request membership, they shall be put in contact with the nearest Branch and/or the National Secretariat.

Art.9 — Comrades who have already undergone the process outlined above together with the Branch and the national Secretariat, and express a desire to join the organization, are admitted into the FdCA on the recommendation of the Branch or the National Secretariat.

IV — Congressional Debate

Art.10 — There are two types of strategy: Basic Strategy and Political Strategy.

Art.11 — The FdCA’s anarchist communist militants are united on Basic Strategy: they reject any possibility of two different Basic Strategies existing within the organization. They recognize, though, that in cases where members should develop alternative, complementary positions of Basic Strategy, these must be discussed within the organization on condition that any dissent remain internal. This discussion is activated through the “Debate on Basic Strategy”.

Art.12 — FdCA members tend towards unity on Political Strategy. Political Strategy is periodically discussed and it is permitted for any minority viewpoints that may exist to be made known verbally outside the organization. This discussion is held through the “Debate on Political Strategy”.

Art.13 — Tactics involve the choices and proposals which the organization makes on the basis of its Theory and Strategy. Tactics are always under discussion and are debated at Ordinary Congress and applied by each Branch in its own territory.

Art.14 — Any differences on Tactics may be expressed outside the organization.

V — Debate on Basic Strategy

Art.15 — Proposals to amend the organization’s Basic Strategy must be forwarded to the National Secretariat, which is then obliged to distribute it to all members of the organization within 30 days.

Art.16 — A debate on the question is then initiated by members through the Internal Bulletin, and views expressed on whether or not an official “Debate on Basic Strategy” should begin.

Art.17 — The Council of Delegates shall prepare two motions summarizing the various motions which may have emerged, one in favour of and one against the opening of a “Debate on Basic Strategy”. A vote on the two motions shall form part of the agenda of the successive Ordinary Congress.

Art.18 — Ordinary Congress will decide, by majority vote, if a “Debate on Basic Strategy” is to be opened.

Art.19 — Should Ordinary Congress decide not to open a “Debate on Basic Strategy”, the amendment in question may not be presented again for 3 years.

Art.20 — Within 30 days of the opening of a “Debate on Basic Strategy”, members shall meet more or less at provincial level in order to express their initial evaluation of the points in question by means of one or more amendments which will then be sent to the National Secretariat for publication in the Internal Bulletin.

Art.21 — During the next 120 days, it is the task of every member to coordinate with those who have expressed similar positions to his or her own in order that the minimum number of positions possible be reached at the end of the debate.

Art. 22 — Once the preparatory debate has ended, members shall meet more or less at provincial level and send the text of the amendments presented at the coordinating meeting to the National Secretariat.

Art.23 — The Council of Delegates shall then call a “Congress for the Debate on Basic Strategy”.

Art.24 — The National Secretariat shall publish and distribute the various amendments emerging from the debate.

Art.25 — All members are by right entitled to attend the “Congress for the Debate on Basic Strategy”. Observers are not permitted.

Art.26 — Congress shall express only one Basic Strategy. Eventual minorities shall either accept the Basic Strategy, both within and outside the organization, or leave the organization.

Art.27 — Differences on Basic Strategy must be kept within the organization during the debate.

VI — Debate on Political Strategy

Art.28 — By reason of its nature, Political Strategy needs to be discussed at regular intervals, such intervals being not more than 4 years.

Art.29 — Each “Congress for the Debate on Political Strategy” shall decide the dates for the following “Debate on Political Strategy”.

Art.30 — If the National Secretariat should receive a proposal to amend to the organization’s Political Strategy during a period when no “Debate on Political Strategy” is in progress, it shall distribute it within 30 days to all members.

Art.31 — See Art.25, Internal Regulations.

Art.32 — The Council of Delegates shall prepare two motions summarizing the various positions which may have emerged, one in favour of and one against the opening of a “Debate on Political Strategy”. A vote on the two motions shall form part of the agenda of the following Ordinary Congress.

Art.33 — See Art.19, Internal Regulations.

Art.34 — See Art.21, Internal Regulations.

Art.35 — See Art.22, Internal Regulations.

Art.36 — See Art.23, Internal Regulations.

Art.37 — See Art.25, Internal Regulations.

Art.38 — Congress shall decide on a majority position and, on request, shall indicate to the minorities the changes of wording required to be made to their positions in cases where the majority considers these to be damaging.

Art.39 — Differences on Political Strategy may be verbally expressed outside the organization as a minority position, but may not be articulated in practice.

Art.40 — Congress may remove observers at any time.

Art.41 — Congress for the “Debate on Political Strategy” is called by the Council of Delegates.

VII — Tasks of Ordinary Congress

Art.42 — All members are by right entitled to participate in Ordinary Congress. Upon prior notification by Branches or Commissions, observers may be invited.

Art.43 — Ordinary Congress may remove observers at any time.

Art.44 — Congress elects the Commissions, according to Art.23 of the Statute. The representative of each Commission can be elected according to the following three methods, one of which shall be chosen by Congress:

1. each Commission elects from among its members a representative to represent it on the Council of Delegates;

2. Ordinary Congress appoints a representative to each Commission who will represent the latter on the Council of Delegates;

3. the representative of each Commission is elected from among the members of the Council of Delegates and is appointed to the appropriate Commission.

VIII — Commissions

Art.45 — The Commissions elected by Congress have the following functions:

1. during the intervals between Congresses, to develop detailed analysis of their specific sector of interest, organizing seminars, meetings, debates and producing documents;

2. to follow the actuation of general tactics, as decided by Congress, within the Branches.

Art.46 — Commissions are required to send schematic reports at intervals of not more than four months regarding questions concerning their activities for publication in the Internal Bulletin.
If such reports are not forthcoming, the Commission is considered dissolved and its responsibilities fall to the Council of Delegates.

IX — Council of Delegates and National Secretariat

Art.47 — The Council of Delegates is elected by Congress. It consists of an odd number of comrades and must include delegates from the most significant territorial groups, together with the representatives of the active Commissions.

Art.48 — The Council of Delegates has the following functions:

1. to elaborate the Organization’s political line between one Congress and another and to guide the activities of Branches, Commissions and other bodies within the Organization;

2. to approve the Federation’s financial reports and economic matters, also considering the refund of expenses for members’ participation in Congresses and in Councils of Delegates;

3. to carry out all functions bestowed on it by these Internal Regulations.

Art.49 — Observers from outside the organization are permitted to attend the Council of Delegates, upon prior notification by Branches.

Art.50 — The Council of Delegates can meet only if 50% plus one of its members are present. Delegates may be substituted in cases of impediment, upon prior notification of the Branch concerned.

Art.51 — The Council of Delegates shall meet:

1. whenever these Internal Regulations require it;

2. whenever considered necessary by 50% plus one of its members.

Art.52 — The Council of Delegates shall answer directly to Ordinary Congress for its activities.

Art.53 — After every meeting, the Council of Delegates shall send a detailed report on its debates and decisions to the Internal Bulletin.

Art.54 — The Council of Delegates shall nominate an International Secretary to whom it entrusts the task of dealing with international relations. The International Secretary shall be answerable for his or her activities to the Council of Delegates and the National Secretariat, and shall avail of the cooperation of the International Relation Office nominated by the Council of Delegates.

Art.55 — The Council of Delegates shall nominate a Treasurer whose task shall be to collect and manage Branch and member dues, to promote and manage voluntary contributions, to draw up an annual financial report for each financial year ending 31 December. The Treasurer shall be answerable for his or her activities to the Council of Delegates and the National Secretariat.

Art.56 — The Council of Delegates shall nominate an Administrator of the Centro di Documentazione Franco Salomone, who shall be answerable for his or her activities to the Council of Delegates and the National Secretariat.

Art.57 — The Council of Delegates shall nominate a Head of the Studies Office, who shall be answerable for his or her activities to the Council of Delegates and the National Secretariat and may avail of contributions from both within and outside the organization.

Art.58 — The National Secretariat has the following functions:

1. to represent the organization publicly, and — in urgent cases — may formulate statements to express the organization’s position on major political events; such statements may be published and at the same time sent to all Branches by the fastest methods (telephone, fax, email, etc.). It is the task of Branches to publicize the organization’s positions in their local areas and in the structures where they operate;

2. to establish relations with other political organizations, to adopt initiatives and to decide to support the initiatives of other political organizations. Within the context of the strategy decided by Congress, the National Secretariat takes all necessary initiatives including the production of posters, the organization of debates and any other measures considered useful;

3. to call the ordinary sitting of the Council of Delegates every 4 months and whenever considered necessary or upon the request of 50% plus one of its members. It shall call an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Delegates when the position to be taken is of great importance or if there is political dissent within the Secretariat;

4. to maintain relations with Branches and Commissions; to organize the debate with isolated members who approach the organization; to be aware of and follow the activities of members in order to allow the organization to rationalise the use of its capacities;

5. to manage the organization’s website and mailing lists;

6. to carry out mandates received from the Council of Delegates to organize Ordinary and Extraordinary Congresses;

7. to collect and manage the dues from Branches and unattached militants; to promote and manage subscriptions, prepare annual budgets and final accounts to be closed on 31^st December.

Art.59 — The Internal Bulletin (replaced by a mailing list) is the organ of information and debate for members of the Federation. All reports from Commissions, Branches and members shall be published in full in the Internal Bulletin. The contents of the Internal Bulletin, unless previously published elsewhere, are to be considered strictly internal to the organization and may be used outside the organization only upon the decision of the Council of Delegates.