DRAFT PARTY RULES (INITIAL VERSION)

[The document is written in the form of two parallel columns — two variants of the draft; the points of each variant are numbered independently, hence article numbers appear twice. The text is given in the order of the source (Complete Collected Works, Vol. 54, preparatory materials).]

| First variant (left column) | Second variant (right column) |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1. A member of the RSDLP is considered anyone who accepts its program, belongs to one of its organisations, and supports the party by both material means and personal participation in its activity. | 1. A member of the RSDLP is considered anyone who accepts its program and supports the party by both material means and personal participation in one of the party organisations. |
| 2. The supreme organ of the party is the party congress. Party congresses are convened (if possible, no less than once every two years) by the Central Committee. The CC is obliged to convene a party congress if this is demanded by the committees and unions of committees of the party that together had 1/3 of the votes at the last congress. | 2. The supreme organ of the party is the party congress. Party congresses are convened (if possible, no less than once every two years) by the Central Committee. The CC is obliged to convene a party congress if this is demanded by the committees and unions of committees of the party that together had 1/3 of the votes at the last congress, or if this is demanded by the Council of the Party. The congress is considered valid if more than 1/2 of all committees of the party existing at the time of the congress are represented. |
| 3. Representation at the congress is held by: (a) the CC; (b) the editorial board of the party's Central Organ; (c) all local committees not belonging to special unions; (d) all unions of committees recognised by the party. Each of these four categories of organisations has two decisive votes at the party congress. New committees and unions of committees must generally be recognised by the Central Committee; and, in particular, recognised no less than half a year before the congress to receive decisive representation at the congress. | 3. Representation at the congress is held by: (a) the CC; (b) the editorial board of the party's Central Organ; (b1) the Council of the Party[1]; (c) all local committees not belonging to special unions; (d) all unions of committees recognised by the party. Each organisation of these four categories has two decisive votes at the party congress. New committees and unions of committees are generally confirmed by the Central Committee; only on condition of their confirmation no less than half a year before the congress do they receive representation at the congress. |
| 4. The party congress elects the CC, the editorial board of the party's Central Organ. The CC directly directs the political struggle, unites and guides all practical activity of the party, and manages the central party fund. To serve the movement as a whole, the CC also appoints special agents or special groups directly subordinate to it. The CC resolves all conflicts both between different organisations and institutions of the party and within them. The CC handles the RSDLP's relations with other political parties and organisations and the conclusion of temporary agreements with them[2]. | 4. The party congress elects the CC, the editorial board of the CO and the Council of the Party. The CC unites and guides all practical activity of the party and manages the central party fund, as well as all all-party technical institutions. The CC resolves conflicts both between different organisations and institutions of the party and within them. The CC handles the RSDLP's relations with other political parties and organisations and the conclusion of temporary agreements with them[2]. |
| 5. The editorial board of the Central Organ provides ideological leadership of the party, editing the party's Central Organ, the party's scientific organ, and individual pamphlets, directing propaganda, agitation, etc., and the resolution of tactical questions. The seat of the CC must be in Russia, and the CO abroad. To coordinate their activity, the editorial board of the CO and the CC maintain constant contact and hold meetings and conferences as often as possible. In case of a conflict between the editorial board of the CO and the CC, the matter is settled by a panel consisting of two members from the editorial board of the CO, two members from the CC, and one member elected by all members of the editorial board of the CO and the CC together. In case of the arrest of all members of the CC and all candidate members of the CC, its composition is appointed by the editorial board of the CO by a majority of 2/3 of its votes. The editorial board of the CO represents the party abroad. | 5. The editorial board of the Central Organ provides ideological leadership of the party, editing the party's Central Organ, the party's scientific organ, and individual pamphlets. The seat of the CC must be in Russia, and the CO abroad. To coordinate their activity, the editorial board of the CO and the CC maintain constant contact and hold meetings and conferences as often as possible. In case of a disagreement between the editorial board of the CO and the CC, the matter is decided by the permanent 'Council of the Party' consisting of 5 members from the editorial board of the CO and the CC, appointed by the congress. In case of the arrest of all members of the CC and all candidate members of the CC, its composition is appointed by the editorial board of the CO by a majority of 2/3 of its votes[3]. The editorial board of the CO represents the party abroad[4]. |
| — | 5 bis. The Council of the Party is elected by the congress from among 5 members of the editorial board of the CO and the CC. The Council decides matters and disputes or disagreements between the editorial board of the CO and the CC in the sphere of general organisational and tactical questions. The Council of the Party in the intervals between congresses is generally the supreme organ of the party. The Council of the Party renews the CC in case of its complete overthrow[5]. The Council of the Party resolves disagreements between the editorial board of the CO and the CC in the sphere of general organisational and tactical questions, coordinates their activity and is generally the supreme institution of the party in the periods from congress to congress[6]. |
| 6. Every committee of the party, union of committees recognised by the party, and every other organisation or group of the party autonomously manages affairs pertaining to the given locality, given district, given national movement, or given function specially assigned to that group, undertaking, however, to obey all decisions of the CC and to give the means determined by the Central Committee (or by a decision of the congress) to the central party fund. | 6. Every committee of the party, union of committees recognised by the party, and every other organisation or group of the party autonomously manages affairs pertaining specially and exclusively to the given locality, given district, given national movement, or given function specially assigned to that group, undertaking, however, to obey all decisions of the CC and the CO and to give the means determined by the Central Committee to the central party fund. |
| 7. Every member of the party and every person rendering any service to the party has the right to demand that his statement in its original form be conveyed to the CC, or to the CO, or to the party congress. | 7. Every member of the party and every person having any business with the party has the right to demand that his statement in its original form be conveyed to the CC, or to the CO, or to the party congress. |
| 8. Every party organisation is obliged to supply the Central Committee (or its agents) and the editorial board of the CO with all means for becoming acquainted with all its activity and all its personnel. | 8. Every party organisation is obliged to supply both the Central Committee and the editorial board of the CO with all means for becoming acquainted with all its activity and all its personnel. |
| 9. All party organisations and all collegiate institutions of the party decide matters by a simple majority of votes and have the right of co-optation. For the co-optation of new members and for the expulsion of members, a 2/3 majority is required. | 9. All party organisations and all collegiate institutions of the party decide matters by a simple majority of votes and have the right of co-optation. For the co-optation of new members and for the expulsion of members, a 2/3 majority is required. |
| 10. The Foreign League of Russian Social Democracy unites all members of the RSDLP residing abroad into a society whose aim is propaganda and agitation abroad, as well as every kind of assistance to the Russian movement. The League has all the rights of a committee with the sole exception that in the sphere of propaganda and agitation it acts under the direct guidance of the editorial board of the CO, and it renders all support to the Russian movement only through the intermediary of persons or groups specially appointed by the Central Committee. | 10. The Foreign League of Russian Social Democracy has as its aim propaganda and agitation abroad, as well as assistance to the Russian movement. The League has all the rights of a committee with the sole exception that it renders support to the Russian movement only through the intermediary of persons or groups specially appointed by the Central Committee. |
| — | 11. The Foreign League of Russian Social Democracy has as its aim propaganda and agitation abroad, as well as assistance to the Russian movement. The League has all the rights of a committee with the sole exception that it renders support to the Russian movement only through the intermediary of persons or groups specially appointed by the Central Committee. |

Written in the second half of May - June 1903.

First published in 1927 in Lenin Miscellany VI.
Printed from the manuscript.

Footnotes:

[1] Point "b1" was struck out by V. I. Lenin in the final redaction of this draft. [Ed.]
[2] In the final redaction of this draft, V. I. Lenin struck out this text. [Ed.]
[3] After the words "editorial board of the CO" V. I. Lenin originally wrote the words "by its unanimous decision", which were subsequently crossed out by him. [Ed.]
[4] The text from the words "The seat of the CC" to the end of the point was struck out by V. I. Lenin and in the margin at the beginning of the paragraph he wrote: "Down with it". [Ed.]
[5] The second and third paragraphs of the point were crossed out by V. I. Lenin. The fourth paragraph was written in the margin. [Ed.]
[6] The text from the second paragraph was written by V. I. Lenin in pencil. [Ed.]