4th National Congress of the Erusian National Communist Party

4th Central Committee Elections Communist Party Leadership Contest
Candidate	Robert Lethler	Kai Roosevelt	Carwyn Jenkins
Faction	Conservative	Moderate	Liberal
Main Office	General Secretary	Chairwoman	CDC Chairman
Public Office	Supreme People's Commissioner	Premier	NPEC-IA
Projected Vote	56%	25%	19%

The 4th Chaired Plenary Session of the National Congress of the Erusian National Communist Party, commonly known plainly as the 4th National Congress, is a major national meeting of the ruling Communist Party in the Democratic People's Republic of Erusia scheduled to be held on or around 15 August 2009. It follows on from the 3rd National Congress in February 2009, being the second such meeting of the year. Every National Congress is a major event in the Erusian political calendar - it is the only time when most members of the Communist Party have a direct, defining influence on national policy. The most important event of the Congress will be the election of the 4th Central Committee to lead the Party, and thus the Democratic People's Republic, until the 5th National Congress in February 2010.

Background

The 4th National Congress is the fourth major meeting of the Erusian National Communist Party in it's history, and the second ever to be held formally. It will be the first Congress to be held after a full six months since the previous one, establishing a trend that the Communist Party will hope to continue. It's predecessor, the 3rd National Congress, was considered a landmark event in the history of the Communist Party and marked major changes in the political landscape of the Democratic People's Republic - it is expected that the events of the 4th Congress will be even more significant than that of it's predecessor. Although the Congress itself officially effects only the Party, with State elections being held some four months later in December, the government itself is subordinate to the supreme political authority of the Communist Party and as such the decisions made by it will redefine Erusian politics for the next six months.

According to the Constitution of the Erusian National Communist Party, the National Congress is charged with performing six key duties:

(a) To hear and examine the reports of the Central Committee, including biannual Central Committee Work Report to the National Congress
(b) To hear and examine the Work Reports of all relevant Party officials and institutions
(c) To discuss and decide on major issues effecting the Party
(d) To revise the constitution of the Party
(e) To elect the Central Committee with consent of the Founder
(f) To elect other appropriate national organs as decided by the previous Central Committee

— Chapter IV, XXVII of the constitution

Significance

Scope

The 4th National Congress is expected to be a landmark event in the history of the Erusian National Communist Party. For the first time in it's history, all three major factions of the Communist Party will be actively competing for the top leadership role on the Central Committee. It will also be the largest Congress to date beyond any doubt - although the final list of delegates will not be known until late July or even early August, the Office of the Chairwoman has issued a statement saying that "Comrade [Chairwoman] Roosevelt has estimated between sixteen and nineteen delegates will be in attendance at the Congress". Officially all Communist Party members are invited to the Congress - in practice, the Central Discipline Commission denies access to any one who has failed to earn their local Party's nomination. As such, the final number of delegates will be determined by the events of the Local Party Congresses in July.

Rumours of constitutional change

One of the most vital powers of the National Congress is it's ability to alter the Constitution of the Erusian National Communist Party - thus far, it appears customary for at least one amendment to be made to the constitution at each Congress. There are rumours within the Communist Party however that as part of it's recommendations to the 4th Central Committee, the incumbent 3rd Central Committee will table a motion to introduce a whole new Party constitution, much like it has done with the National Constitution in the aftermath of the May 2009 Erusian General Election. Senior Party leaders refuse to confirm or deny that this is the case, suggesting that at the very least the constitution is due for massive reform. It is also suspected that, if he is re-elected as General Secretary, Robert Lethler's variation of Rennie-Gaffneyism will be officially adopted as one of the lesser guiding ideologies of the Party.

Timeline of Events

On July 3, 2009 the Central Committee officially unveiled the perliminary agenda for the 4th National Congress, which it confirmed would be staggered over the course of three days. The following items are not yet set in stone. It is worth noting that this time the elections for the three principle organs have been included, surprisingly, in the Closing Ceremony to save time.

August 21st

Pre-Congress Events

• 1700hrs
  • 17:00 - Formal confirmation of all delegates
  • 17:20 - Plenary Session of the 3rd Central Committee begins
  • 17:50 - Call to attention
  • 17:55 - All Standing Members of the Central Committee, the Central Discipline Commission and the Central Advisory Committee must have counter-signed a declaration of resignation by this time
• 1800hrs
  • 18:00 - Formal announcement of the resignation of all members of the aforementioned institutions
  • 18:30 - General Secretary addresses the nation
• 1900hrs
  • 19:00 - 3rd Central Committee plenum concludes
  • 19:15 - Central Discipline Commission, Central Advisory Committee hold final meetings
  • 19:30 - Pre-Congress Press Conference; foreign media may attend
  • 19:50 - Final summons

Opening Ceremony

• 2000hrs
  • 20:00 - Opening Ceremony officially begins with the Chairwoman of the National Congress calling all members to silence
  • 20:01 - Chairwoman delivers opening call
  • 20:05 - Speaker introduces the Central Committee, CDC, CAC, foreign guests
  • 20:07 - National Anthem of Erusia, National Anthem of Bzan
  • 20:10 - All Party members retake the Revolutionary Oath, foreign delegates confirm they will ahdere to the Nondisclosure Agreement
  • 20:15 - General Secretary delivers his Opening Address to the Congress
  • 20:30 - Grand Duke Jamie Sutherland delivers his Special Address to the Congress
  • 20:40 - Delegate 2 (TBC) delivers their Special Address to the Congress
  • 20:50 - Delegate 3 (TBC) delivers their Special Address to the Congress
• 2100hrs
  • 21:00 - Chairwoman of the National Congress delivers her Opening Address
  • 21:15 - Chairman of the Candidate Selection Committee delivers their Special Address to the Congress
  • 21:25 - Chairman of the Candidate Selection Committee announces the names of those nominated for each of the three principle organs of Party authority
  • 21:30 - General Secretary delivers special address concerning Francis Smith, offers tribute, delivers his Final Revolutionary Order (the Congress slogan)
  • 21:40 - Chairwoman of the National Congress delivers closing statements, details plan
  • 21:50 - Ceremonially amendment of the Party Constitution to add the new Congress motto
  • 21:55 - Official opening of the 4th Chaired Plenary Session
  • 22:00 - The 3rd Central Committee officially surrenders all it's powers to the National Congress

August 22nd

Pre-Session Events

• 0600hrs
  • 06:00 - Opening of General Conference Room (a lounge for delegates to talk to one another freely in)
• 1000hrs
  • 10:00 - Plenary Session of the Candidate Selection Committee until 11:50
• 1100hrs
  • 11:45 - Closing of General Conference Room
  • 11:50 - Final summons

Main Congress

• 1200hrs
  • 12:00 - National Anthem of Erusia once more followed by the Anthem of the People's Revolutionary Guard
  • 12:05 - Chairwoman gives brief address, declare Congress to be open
  • 12:10 - General Secretary delivers Work Report of the 2nd and 3rd Central Committees
• 1300hrs
  • 13:00 - Chairwoman opens floor for debate and discussion of Work Report, delegates freely question Central Committee or it's individual members
• 1400hrs
  • 14:00 - Chairman of the Central Discipline Commission delivers it's Work Report
  • 14:30 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the CDC
• 1500hrs
  • 15:00 - Chairman of the Central Advisory Committee delivers it's Work Report
  • 15:30 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the CAC
• 1600hrs
  • 16:00 - One hour recess for lunch and refreshment, reopening of General Conference Room
• 1700hrs
  • 17:00 - Return to Congress; Work Report of the Erusian National Communist Party - Erus Municipal Division
  • 17:20 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary
  • 17:40 - Work Report of the Erusian National Communist Party - Sanctia Division
• 1800hrs
  • 18:00 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary
  • 18:20 - Work Report of the Erusian National Communist Party - Sacria Division
  • 18:40 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary
• 1900hrs
  • 19:00 - Work Report of the Erusian National Communist Party - Bzan Division
  • 19:20 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary
  • 19:40 - One hour thirty-five minute recess for food and refreshment
  • 19:50 - Reopening of General Conference Room
• 2000hrs
  • 20:15 - Work Report of the People's Revolutionary Guard
  • 20:30 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary of the PRG
  • 20:45 - Work Report of the Primary Party Organisation of the Central People's Bank of Erusia
• 2100hrs
  • 21:00 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Party Secretary
  • 21:15 - Work Report of the Chief of Staff
  • 21:40 - Debate on Work Report, free questioning of the Chief of Staff
• 2200hrs
  • 22:00 - Conclusion of work reports and debates, formal thanks to those who delivered them
  • 22:10 - Concluding statements by Chairwoman
  • 22:30 - End of day's events

Post-Session Events

• 2200hrs
  • 22:30 - General Secretary meets with other Party officials in private, either individually or in groups, and spends 10 minutes talking with each of them; Chairwoman, Chairmen of CDC and CAC do same elsewhere
  • 22:40 - Opening of General Conference Room until midnight

August 23rd

Pre-Session Events

• 0600hrs
  • 06:00 - Opening of General Conference Room
• 1000hrs
  • 10:00 - Joint Plenary Session of the 3rd Central Committee, Central Discipline Commission and Central Advisory Committee for an hour and a half
• 1100hrs
  • 11:45 - Closing of General Conference Room
  • 11:50 - Final summons

Main Congress

• 1200hrs
  • 12:00 - National Anthem of Erusia once more followed by the Anthem of the People's Revolutionary Guard
  • 12:05 - Chairwoman gives brief address, declares Congress to be open
  • 12:10 - Beginning of four-hour debate on Party policies with General Secretary delivering brief address concerning national policy
  • 12:20 - Members freely propose new policies, amendments to policies, abolition of policies etc., debate them and approve or reject them
• 1600hrs
  • 16:20 - Recess for one hour, reopening of General Conference Room
• 1700hrs
  • 17:20 - Beginning of three-hour debate on national legislature, political reform etc. and the framework for the next six months of government with Chairwoman giving brief address
  • 17:30 - The floor is free for discussion of every facet of legislative and political work, including proposals, motions and votes (including brief 15 minute recess midway through)
• 2000hrs
  • 20:30 - Recess for one hour, General Conference Room remains closed
• 2100hrs
  • 21:30 - Proposals, debate and voting on any suggestions for reform of the Party Constitution

Closing Ceremony

• 2200hrs
  • 22:00 - Congress gathers for voting and closing ceremony, foreign delegates able to reattend
  • 22:05 - Speaker announces 4th Central Committee elections, names candidates for General Secretary, voting for General Secretary opens
  • 22:10 - Speaker announces candidates for Chairwoman, voting for Chairwoman opens
  • 22:15 - Speaker announces candidates for 4th Central Committee, voting begins by STV
  • 22:30 - Speaker announces candidates for Central Advisory Committee, voting opens
  • 22:40 - Speaker announces candidates for Central Discipline Commission, voting opens
• 2300hrs / 0000hrs
  • 23:00 - Ballot counting must conclude by this time, election results announced by Speaker
  • 23:10 - Hand over power between from the 3rd to the 4th Central Committee
  • 23:15 - Speech by re-elected General Secretary OR by outgoing candidate
  • 23:30 - Speech by new candidate - IF Gen Sec re-elected, disregard
  • 23:30 / 23:45 - Closing address by Chairwoman
  • 23:45 / 00:00 - National Anthem
  • 23:50 / 00:05 - Closing of 4th National Congress

August 24th

Post-Congress Events

• 1800hrs
  • 18:00 - 1st Plenary Session of the 4th Central Committee
• 2000hrs
  • 20:00 - Evening Press Conference; foreign media welcome