SXS9

STARTING SYNTHESIS PARTIES

HOW TO START A SYNTHESIS PARTY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
The SXS charters Synthesis Parties at the national level. The most important requirements for obtaining a charter for a Synthesis Party at the national level are the personal credentials of the applicants. If applicants have distinguished themselves professionally in some field and if they have a working knowledge of the party doctrine, and especially if they are registered as the founders of the Synthesis Party in their country, then they will be more likely to receive a charter. These are the most important conditions that must be met in order to be "recognized" by the SXS as a charter member. The benefits of charter membership include access to technical and financial assistance needed to build or operate a Synthesis Party, and the exclusive right to use the name "SYNTHESIS PARTY" in your native language, to be either preceded or followed by the designator of your nationality.

You should also be knowledgeable of the election laws, and laws governing the establishment of political parties in your own country. In the United States, and provided you are just in a membership building phase, and are not yet fielding candidates for office, laws governing the establishment of political parties tend to be rather permissive. This is related to the fact that any restraints on their formation would tend to violate certain constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, namely, freedom of speech and assembly. However, many other nations are not so generous in their freedoms. So, before you try to form a political party, make sure that you have a good knowledge of your political culture, and of the laws that apply to the formation of political parties in your country.

Applying for Official Status or a Charter
Ideally, assuming you have met the personal and professional requirements, and have passed your Level 3 examinations, you will want to have a national membership base of at least 1000 members before you apply for a charter. While 1000 might not seem like a politically significant number, in some smaller countries (like Luxembourg, for instance) it could be a significant number. And, you must consider the possibility that the larger your national membership, the more likely it is that someone else with better qualifications or credentials may apply for a charter before you do. You will want to apply for a charter as soon as your "informal" party membership has reached 1000 for other reasons as well. Specifically, you will want to gain complete access to the technical and financial assistance that is available to your party from the SXS, in order to build your party organization to a point where it will be capable of processing a significant spike in membership, without placing a strain on your resources. Due to a convergence of world events, such a sudden spike in membership should be anticipated, at some point.

Naming Your Party
If you form a party based upon the basic principles of the Xenophyte Code, what should it be called? First of all, to distinguish it philosophically and ideologically from other parties, to emphasize the major political element of its philosophy, which is the idea of ideological synthesis, and to identify its affiliation with the International Synthesis Party (SXS), the party designator should contain the term "synthesis" in the principal language of the nation in which the party is to be established. The party name should also include a national designator, to denote the nation in which the party is to be established. And finally, the party name should include a designator indicating that the entity to be formed is in fact a political party. So, the name for a Synthesis Party must contain three elements: 1)The national designator 2)The ideological designator 3)And the political party designator. The order of these designators in forming the title of a national party will depend on your language and on the names of chartered Synthesis Parties that are already in existence at the time. Problems with naming your party will occur mainly when an acronym has already been taken by another national party, as in the case of the American Synthesis Party, or ASP, which effectively prevents the Australian Synthesis Party from using the acronym of ASP. Hence, the Synthesis Party of Australia would have to be assigned the designation SPA.

HOW TO START A LOCAL SYNTHESIS PARTY
First of all, you will need to be a member of an existing Synthesis Party in your country. Even if no party has been established in your area, or even in your country, you can begin to informally meet with other party members in your area, merely to socialize with others who have similar interests and outlooks, or to begin building the foundations for a party organization. Who emerges as your local party chairman, or even the founder of the Synthesis Party in your country, will depend mainly on your competition, your own knowledge of party doctrine, and your own communications skills.

The first person to become proficient in the party doctrine, and the first to pass their Level 3 exams, will generally emerge as the party leader in their area, or even their country, if no formal Synthesis Party has been established in their country. If one or more people apply for Level 3 exams at or near the same time, the position of local party chairman will generally be awarded to the person who has the highest test scores; although, other factors may be considered in making this determination, such as one's seniority, and how active one has been in assembling the local party organization.

If there is currently no Synthesis Party in your community, you can still convene informal meetings with other Synthesists in your area, either purely to socialize with others who have similar views and interests, or to discuss the finer points of the party doctrine, and to begin to evaluate other members for their leadership potential. You can also begin to informally recruit members at this stage. For instance, lets say that you and a group of friends have decided to join the party, or to form a local chapter. You all find that you agree with the Xenophyte Code, which is at the core of the party philosophy, and you have taken the Class A membership oath. You all want to know what you can do to better serve the party, and to advance within the party. From this point, you will need to begin studying the finer details of the party philosophy to enable you to pass a series of exams. The next thing that you must do is actually arrange to be tested. On the basis of your test scores, you will be assigned an eligibility rank for various positions within the party. By constantly improving your knowledge of the party philosophy, and by constantly improving your test scores, you will be positioning yourself to advance within the party, as your local membership base begins to grow. At this stage, you will have "informally" established a local party chapter, even if it is only composed of you and a few of your friends. However, once your local membership has reached around 20 or more members ( a number that could actually be significant in a local election in a small community), then you will need to take the next step, which is to apply for provisional "sector" status. Basically, the sector is the organizational unit in the party which corresponds to the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) in which you live.

Ideally, in addition to meeting the above requirements, you will have some higher education (at least a four year degree in one of the social or behavioral sciences), but, this is not required. What is required is that, at a particular point in time, you are the one person in your area who exhibits the greatest familiarity with the party doctrine and the most interest and ability to lead the party in your area. And, just because you are best qualified to lead the party in your area at a particular point in time, does not guarantee that you will be able to retain your position. As the party becomes more popular in your area, you may have to face competition from other members. It is only by virtue of your determination, competence and integrity that you will be able to retain your position at the local level, or even advance beyond the local level. The principle of merit, not internal party politics, is what will determine your success in the party as much as anything else.

What other skills or resources will I need to start a local party?
Most importantly, you will need a basic understanding of the English language. At this stage, the party does not have the resources that will be needed to translate the party doctrine into other languages. Until it does have these resources, all documents, communications and business between Synthesis Parties and their affiliates must be conducted in the English language, and all tests and examinations will be administered in the English language.

In terms of financial or physical resources, most importantly, you will need a place for local members to meet. Initially, and as long as your local membership remains small, you can use your own residence if you choose. However, do not expect the party to reimburse you for any use you make of your personal resources, including your residence, for conducting party business. Alternatively, if you do not wish to use your home as an informal gathering place for party members, in some parts of the US (and in some other countries as well), it is possible to use public facilities (such as a school auditorium or classroom, during after hours, or on weekends) for political purposes. Consult local officials to determine if this is possible in your community. But, as long as your membership remains small (under 20 people), your personal residence is the logical choice for a meeting place. Besides, its not like you will be inviting complete strangers into your home. For, at least initially, only more highly educated, intelligent and presumably, people of good character, will be interested in joining your local chapter anyway. The principal tool that you will have to recruit and retain members are your own communication skills and your own powers of persuasion. Beyond these basic resources, not much else is required, unless of course you want to serve food or refreshments at your meetings.

To help you with either giving lectures to larger groups (greater than 20) or informal talks to smaller groups (less than 20), formal lesson plans will be made available to you upon request at no charge. Otherwise, if you are an accomplished public speaker, you can just shoot from the hip. However, in either case, you will be expected to have a commanding knowledge of the party doctrine. For the studious and dedicated member, this can be gained in as little as 12 weeks. However, it is strongly recommended that you devote a considerably greater period of time to develop a complete appreciation of the party doctrine.

If you aspire to the highest positions in the party, you will need to have a commanding knowledge of both the party doctrine, and of the main resources from which the party doctrine has been derived. The party doctrine is covered in the Xenophyte Perspective series (most of which has been published online, and is now available online), as well as in other websites that makeup the party's network. A list of the main resources from which the party doctrine has been derived can be found in the Social and Behavioral Science Knowledge Base sections of this website.

Training Seminars
Depending on the public's response and demand for them, the party may sponsor training seminars, mainly for the benefit of prospective Sector Chiefs. These seminars will expose candidates for the position of Sector Chief to the formal requirements of the Sector Chief (the highest salaried position at the local level). And, it will also allow prospective Sector Chiefs to share their experiences and knowledge with each other. Lesson plans for lectures will also be made available at these seminars.

Record Keeping
Accurate record keeping of membership is your responsibility, whether your party has been chartered or not. Even at the stage where your local chapter is little more than an informal gathering, you should begin to keep records to establish the routines that you will need to follow when your group has been formally recognized.

General Conduct
You only serve in an official capacity as a party representative for as long as you are a party member in good standing. If anything happens to tarnish your good name, whether it is justified or not, you can be removed from your position, or asked to resign. Your office may not be an elective position, but it carries many of the same obligations as elective office. As a de facto public official who represents the party, you will be expected to conform to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Any financial or other malfeasance will elicit severe penalties, and, punishment may extend beyond what is prescribed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the offense was deemed to occur.

PARTY PUBLICATIONS, PARAPHERNALIA, AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Publications
PEPTALK (POLITICS, ETHICS and PHILOSOPHY TARGETING AMERICANS LOOKING for KNOWLEDGE) and other publications can be purchased through the ASP main site at www.mypoliticalparty.com

Paraphernalia
Lapel pins, tempest bumper stickers, and other paraphernalia can also be purchased through the ASP site.

Contributions
Currently, all contributions to the SXS, the ASP, or to a Synthesis Party outside the United States must be made to the ASP. The ASP main site is set up to receive contributions electronically.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Party members who wish to run for public office as representatives of their chartered Synthesis Party ticket must meet the following requirements: The must be sworn Class A members of their chartered Synthesis Party. They must have passed their Level 1 exams (some offices will require passage of level 3 exams). They must be at least 25 years of age. The must be a party member in good standing. They must not have been convicted of a criminal offense, other than minor traffic infractions, or other than political offenses which may be expunged from their records. They must have been a resident in the nation in which they are running for office for at least 10 consecutive years, and they must currently be a resident of that nation.

Regular Membership
Once a Synthesis Party has been established in your country, regular membership is open to virtually anyone, regardless of how much they know about its doctrine. Becoming a regular member is simply a matter of joining the party, and paying the annual membership dues. But, to have the opportunity to advance within the party, one must be a Class A member. Class A membership requires that one read, understand and agree with the Xenophyte Code, and that one take an oath stating that they have read, understand, and agree with the Xenophyte Code, and that they will live according to its principles. The Xenophyte Code is the most concise statement of the Xenophyte or Synthesis Party philosophy. A more complete understanding of the party philosophy is required for all higher posts within the party.

Like all organizations in which people seek membership on the basis of a shared system of beliefs, Synthesis Parties exclude those who do not share their core beliefs. For instance, it would make no sense for people who identify themselves as Republicans to want to join the Democratic Party. Similarly, it would make no sense for a person who does not agree with the Xenophyte Code to seek membership in the SXS or one of its national affiliates. Membership in a Synthesis Party depends on one's fundamental understanding and agreement with the essentials of the party doctrine. This excludes all who do not identify themselves as either Synthesists or Xenophytes. This also excludes people who identify themselves as either liberals or conservatives!

The main qualification for membership in a political party which is defined principally by an ideology is agreement with that ideology. Not all political parties are so ideologically exclusive, or so strict in their ideological allegiances. For instance, one can belong to either the Republican or the Democratic parties regardless of whether they identify themselves as liberals, conservatives or libertarians (although, more commonly, it will be the case that Republicans are conservative and Democrats are liberal). These parties are designed to be "catch-all" parties and are not tightly organized around a set of ideological principles. They do not require their members to abide by a political creed, or they do not define their membership exclusively in ideological terms. They do not require their members to be bound by a set of ideological principles. By contrast, the Synthesis Party is much more of an ideological party. It functions more on the basis of its members' commitment to a philosophy, or a set of ideological principles.

The Republicans and the Democrats are much more loosely structured parties, ideologically speaking. Being so loosely structured along ideological lines can have certain advantages. It is advantageous to be ideologically flexible when there is great uncertainty about which ideology will be most likely to serve human interests over the longer term. It is also advantageous in gaining converts who are generally unwilling to commit themselves too strongly to any set of beliefs. But, being loosely structured along ideological lines carries disadvantages for a party as well. It is disadvantageous when a more functional ideology is available; and it is not conducive to maintaining a high degree of solidarity, cohesion and strength within a party.

Advancement
In addition to Class A membership, which only requires a very basic knowledge of the Xenophyte Code, more extensive knowledge of the party philosophy is required for advancement. The greater your mastery of the party ideology, and the more hands on experience you have in building parties or similar organizations, the greater your chance of making an important place for yourself in your party.

Advancing within the party first requires having an interest in the basic principles to which the party is dedicated. It requires agreement with these principles. From this point, it requires having the intellectual stamina that is needed to master the party doctrine, or philosophy. Having a commanding knowledge of the party philosophy is the most important requirement for advancing in either the SXS or its national affiliates. You can gain this knowledge simply from reading the websites that makeup the party's primary network. There will be over 20 sites in this network, including this one. Altogether, these sites will contain over 2000 pages of text that one should become familiar in order to apply to the higher party positions. In addition, there are other party publications that you should become familiar with, although knowledge of these will not be essential for you to pass your examinations.

To obtain a true mastery of the party philosophy, it will be helpful for you to read large parts of the main resources from which important elements of the party doctrine have ultimately been derived. Many of these are listed in the reference sections or appendices of various party websites, such as A Social Science Critique. They are also listed in the Social and Behavioral Science Knowledge Base sections of this website.

Basic communications skills are also important for advancing in the party. Even if you have relatively weak communications skills, you can compensate for this deficiency by having an above average understanding of the party philosophy. This level of understanding is in fact the most important requirement for advancing in the party.

In addition to meeting the formal academic requirements, advancing to higher positions in the SXS requires you to be a person of demonstrated moral character and integrity. With the exception of minor traffic or political offenses, you cannot have a criminal record, and, ideally, you will have already distinguished yourself either academically or professionally.

Running for Office
The following applies mainly to running for political office in the United States, but may apply in other countries as well. If you are a Class A member of the ASP (or other Synthesis party at the national level), and after you have passed your Level 3 examinations, and have received provisional appointment as either a Director, Commander or Sector Chief, depending on how successful you have been at recruiting and organizing members in your community; you may decide to run as a candidate for a higher office (preferably on the Synthesis Party ticket, if you can meet the ballot requirements in your state or province). Or, you may simply choose to remain in a more purely organizing capacity. If you decide to run for office on the Synthesis Party ticket, you should expect to encounter considerable obstacles.

Unless you plan to run on one of the other party's tickets, you will need a strong base of support, just to get your name on the ballot in most jurisdictions. In the United States, election laws and ballot requirements may differ considerably from state to state. But, they are all uniformly unfriendly to third party candidates. And, they are especially unfriendly to candidates who would run for "small, obscure third parties," which Synthesis Parties tend to be. So, if you intend to run for office, become familiar with your own state's election laws to determine if you have a reasonable chance of running on the ASP ticket. If you have been a particularly successful grassroots organizer, you can obviously make your chances much better. The best way to organize a campaign, is to have a strong local base of support. After this initial requirement has been met, other things, including your chances of winning, naturally tend to fall into place.

Until the ASP can compete with the major parties on more or less equal terms, it is perfectly acceptable for our members, or non-members who support our party's philosophy, to run as either Democrats or Republicans. Even if you are a Class A member of the ASP, this would not constitute a violation of your oath. The most important requirement in remaining true to your oath is to support and promote the party philosophy by whatever means are necessary. Running as a candidate of another party that does not require an oath that would negate your sworn commitment to the Synthesis Party philosophy is an acceptable expedient over the near term.

More than anything else, the Synthesis Party is a party of ideas. Its aim is not to seek power for the sake of power, but in order to promote those values, attitudes and beliefs which are at the core of the party's philosophy. The most important thing in running for office is to remain true to this philosophy. One should only seek public office with the aim of translating this philosophy into law. You can still consider yourself to be a Xenophyte or a Synthesist and run under another party's label, because, being a Xenophyte or a Synthesist is more of a commitment to a philosophy than it is a political or party affiliation. Ultimately, we hope that our numbers will allow our members to run for public office under our own party label, with a reasonable chance of winning.