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Hungary Basic Organizations
A Basic Organization existed in every government
institution,
production unit, residential unit, and armed forces unit
having
three or more party members. In 1985 the party had 25,402
Basic
Organizations, of which 37.2 percent were in government
institutions or the armed forces, 30.2 percent in
industrial
enterprises, 15 percent in agricultural enterprises, and
the
remainder in residences scattered throughout the country.
The membership meeting had the highest authority in the
Basic
Organization. According to the Party Rules, membership
meetings
had to be held at least once every two months. The
membership
meeting elected a secretary, a deputy secretary, and a
small
bureau to administer the affairs of the Basic
Organization. In
Basic Organizations of fewer than ten members, the
membership
meeting elected only a secretary and a deputy secretary.
Often
the district organization nominated the secretaries as
part of
its nomenklatura authority. In the 1980s, however,
competitive elections became more frequent. In 1985
one-third of
the newly elected secretaries were newcomers to the
position,
and, compared with 1980, the number of multiple
candidacies rose.
Large Basic Organizations were divided into party groups,
which
elected a steward to direct their affairs. The party
groups
assessed the work and behavior of their members and the
fulfillment of party tasks.
The Basic Organization performed several tasks. Most
important, the Basic Organization implemented party
decisions in
the economic enterprise or other unit under its
jurisdiction. The
Basic Organization conducted agitation and propaganda to
explain
party policies to nonparty members, to inspire nonparty
members
to meet regime goals, and to encourage enthusiasm in the
workplace. The Basic Organization admitted new members
subject to
the approval of the district party organization. The Basic
Organization gave informal courses for party and nonparty
members
on ideology, party history, and current events. The Basic
Organization controlled the activity of enterprise
management to
ensure the fulfillment of its economic plan. Finally, the
party
expected the Basic Organizations to be vigilant and to
report
activities within their jurisdiction that could be
considered
harmful or disloyal.
Data as of September 1989
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