Bylaws of political parties

a) The name of the party.

b) Its symbol.

c) The express declaration that its political action is not subject to the stipulations of foreign organizations or states. This prohibition shall not prevent parties from joining international organizations, participating in their meetings and subscribing declarations, provided that these do not threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Costa Rican Republic.

d) The doctrinal principles concerning economic, political, social and ethical issues.

e) The formal pledge to respect the constitutional order of the Republic.

f) The nominal roll and structure of the organs of the party, their powers, functions and method of constituting them, appropriate internal procedures for contesting its decisions and the grounds and procedures for the removal of individuals occupying the positions.

g) The method of convening members of its organizations to meetings, guaranteeing their effective communication, with the due notice and inclusion of the agenda, the place, date and time for both the first and second notice of convocation, where applicable. At least one quarter of the members of the respective organ must be convened when requested.

h) The quorum required for all its organs to meet, which cannot be less than half plus any additional members.

i) The number of votes required to adopt resolutions. This cannot be less than the simple majority of those present.

j) The method of recording minutes so that the authenticity of their contents is guaranteed and the media where general resolutions shall be published. The Tribunal shall regulate the authentication mechanisms and the formal management of logbooks of political parties.

k) The method of selecting candidates for popularly elected positions, the nominations shall necessarily require the ratification of the general assembly of the party, except for conventions for the nomination of candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, in which case the will of the majority of this process shall be final.

l) The parameters for the dissemination of election advertising that shall be used in the respective internal processes in which the official listed candidates participate.

m) The mechanisms guaranteeing the effective publicity of their accounting and financial information.

n) The regulations enabling public disclosure of the amount of each type of contributions received by the party and the identity of the contributors. Similarly, provision should be made for mechanisms required to determine the origin thereof, when the situation so warrants. The treasurer shall be obliged to communicate this data quarterly to the superior executive committee of the party and to the TSE. Reports shall be sent monthly during the political campaign period.

o) The regulations concerning the observance of gender equality in both the party structure and the popular election ballots.

p) The mechanisms ensuring the principles of equality, nondiscrimination and parity in the party structure and in each and every one of the electoral lists for popular elections, and the mechanism for the alternation of men and women in electoral lists.

q) The method of distributing state funding during election and non-election periods in accordance with the provisions of the Political Constitution. The resources for enablement of the party must be distributed permanently and equally between men and women with the aim of training, shaping and promoting knowledge of human rights, ideology, gender equality, encourage leaderships, political participation, empowerment, nomination and the exercise of decisionmaking positions, among others.

r) The rights and obligations of party members.

s) The mechanism for the effective participation of youths in the various ballots, party organs and various popularly elected positions.

t) The sanctions stipulated for members if any, and the mechanism for exercising the right of defense and the right of appeal with respect to sanctions.