Four Basic Foundation Principles of Federation

I) Unity of Purpose
II) Tactical Unity or Methodology
III) Collective Action and Discipline VI) Federalism (Internal Democracy)

I) UNITY OF PURPOSE

Every organization has a purpose for existing, and when organizations join together in a league or federation there must be unity of purpose. The unity of purpose within this Federation is to build an organization capable of offering long-term, non-partisan support to class-war prisoners (PP/POWs).

II) TACTICAL UNITY OR METHODOLOGY

The fundamental Tactical Unity or Methodology of the ABCF can be found within the ABCF Guide to PP/POW Support (in the form of Federation policies of support work). Tactical Unity is decided by the Federation Council, which represents the various bodies of the Federation. The purpose of the Federation is the foundation on which the Federation works out its basic and tactical direction. This enables the Federation to exploit all the advantages that come with federating: continuity, accountability, concentration of efforts, economy of strength and the ability to respond to needs and circumstances with utmost effectiveness at any time. Tactical Unity reduces inconsistencies in the organization that can undermine the Unity of Purpose.

Because the ABCF is a strictly above-ground PP/POW support organization, all activity done in the name of the ABCF, or as an ABCF local, must be legal under the law of the land. Extra-legal activities taken in the name of the ABCF are grounds for expulsion.

Crucially important to maintaining the anarchist integrity of this organization is the fact that chapters are freely autonomous to take on whatever initiatives they can to further the Unity of Purpose of the ABCF. So long as these initiatives do not contradict any preexisting agreements (Tactical Unity) that have been made by the ABCF, it is not necessary for all groups to approve of and/or agree with programs, projects or work of other ABCF collectives. To take initiatives that do contradict preexisting agreements can be grounds for expulsion.

III) COLLECTIVE ACTION AND DISCIPLINE

When a course of action is decided upon by the Federation, agreement must be reached as to what is to be done and who will carry out the various tasks needed for the successful completion of the action. Those who take on responsibilities are obligated to complete them, absent a credible reason for failure.

Should a credible reason for failure to complete a task be lacking, or any ABCF member be thought to have violated any of the Four Basic Foundation Principles of the ABCF, the FC has the ability to suspend ABCF members/chapters. Grievances may be resolved through the mail or through email. Grievances will be settled within 6 months. If representation and/or resolution through the mail is insufficient, an ABCF meeting will be called at the end of the 6 months. When possible, we will settle grievances in a timely manner using the most accessible form of communication available (phone, email, online conference call).

Communication within the ABCF is of vital importance. Thus, all members should be aware of how the ABCF Constitution and Structure works and how all members can and should pass grievances or observations to the ABCF through the ABCF listserv. The onus is on the member/collective to do this in a non-disruptive way, working through and using proper channels all the time.

1. PROPOSAL PROCEDURE

Every individual or chapter in the Federation has the right to introduce formal proposals to the organization. In order to ensure consistency and avoid confusion, the following guidelines shall apply:

1. Proposals must be consistent with the principles and practices of the Federation.

1. Proposals shall be clearly defined, including a sufficient explanation as to the effects of the proposal to the larger whole.

1. Each proposal should be a stand-alone proposal and not bundled or grouped with other proposals.

1. Each proposal shall have a sufficient deadline for each chapter to discuss and return a vote. The deadline should be no less than seven (7) days and no more than fourteen (14) days from the introduction of the proposal to the larger federation.

1. The parties who have introduced the proposal must be clearly stated. Other individuals and chapters can endorse the proposal by adding their names to the proposal prior to or after the proposal has been introduced.

After a proposal is formally introduced, each chapter shall discuss the matter and direct their Federation Council delegate(s) to cast a vote on their behalf. Each chapter shall decide their internal process to determine their vote. 

The Federation Council will attempt to sincerely seek consensus on the issue at hand. However, when consensus is impractical or impossible to achieve, the Federation Council will vote on the proposal. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of all Federation Council delegates is needed to pass a proposal. 

Prior to the deadline, the parties who introduced the proposal shall make a good faith effort to encourage and/or remind unresponsive chapters to vote. Failure to respond in a sufficient period of time shall cause the chapter to waive their vote on the matter. When chapters have failed to respond, thus waiving their vote, the two-third (2/3) majority vote shall be based on those Federation Council delegates who have voted. But in no case, shall a vote pass where less than three-fourth of the chapters have cast their vote.”

2. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:

The problem of working out tactics is much greater than working out a purpose of unity. The nature of organization is to coordinate forces toward a common goal. When all arguments for the different tactical proposals have been made, when discussion cannot usefully continue, when similar opinions that agree in principle have merged and there still remains an irreducible opposition between the tactics proposed, then the Federation must find a way out. And there are three possibilities.

1) Accept tactical differences and leave everyone to pursue their own tactics.

Conclusion: can only be allowed in certain cases on points that are:

A. not of crucial importance
B. concern local group issues, not national

2) After consulting its constituents, the Federation Council will attempt to sincerely seek consensus on the issue at hand. However, when consensus is impractical or impossible to achieve, the Federation Council will vote on the proposal. If there is a strong objection toward the proposal by one or more delegates on the FC and the proposal conflicts with the statements and by-laws of the Federation, the proposal may be blocked. It is the duty of the acting Facilitator, or the Federation Council as a whole, to then open the floor for discussion until a consensus or vote is made.

When the FC brings a proposal to a vote, a two-thirds (2/3) majority decision rules. The minority accepts that it will give up its ideas and tactics as far as public activity is concerned, while keeping its right to develop its arguments inside the organization—judging that if its opinions accord with reality more closely than the majority then they will eventually prevail by proof of events. This procedure in no way is coercive; it applies because the members of the organization accept it as a rule and the minority accept it as a necessity which allows the tactical proposals accepted put to the test. Conclusion: This is the goal of the Federation in regard to tactical unity (No one will be required as a condition of Federation membership to undertake or participate in an action to which they’re ideologically or otherwise opposed.)

3) When no agreement between majority and minority proves possible on a crucial issue which demands the Federation take a position.
Conclusion: there is naturally and inevitably a split

Overall Summary of Three Possibilities
In all cases tactical unity is the goal; meaning option two is what is accepted by the Federation to manifest and attain points of tactical unity.
-Option one is an extremely exceptional choice
-Option three is the natural outcome when those in the Federation reject the agreed upon collective action in favor of an action decided personally.

IV) FEDERALISM – INTERNAL DEMOCRACY

Federalism combines the advantages of centralism with those of autonomous decision-making. It allows members and chapters to reach decisions with a view towards common work (Tactical Unity) with a shared goal (Unity of Purpose).