I. Plenary Assemblies

1. Plenary meetings to discuss documents and elect delegates shall be convened by the respective Committee, which assumes leadership of the work.

2. The higher committees should take the necessary measures to convene and guarantee the plenary assemblies of the organizations, when the respective committees have not done so.

3. An organization's Party members participate in the proceedings and decisions of the respective plenary assemblies.

4. When Party members belong to more than one organization, the organization where they normally pay their dues shall be considered for the purpose of paragraph 3.

5. The persons directly responsible for these organisations, although not formally their members, may participate in the proceedings of plenary assemblies without the right to vote, except as provided for in paragraph 20 of these rules. Members of higher bodies may also participate in the plenary assemblies, without the right to vote, when invited to do so.

6. Plenary assemblies to elect delegates should be convened at least 8 days in advance. The summons must specify the purpose of the meeting.

7. The members who lead the plenary meetings shall draw the meeting minutes and send them to the Secretariat of the Central Committee by 9 November, where they shall record a summary of the debate and the outcome of the votes, together with the information on the elected delegates.

II. Discussion

8. The documents for the XXI Congress, proposed by the Central Committee for discussion and decision by the Congress, should be discussed at the meetings of the different Party bodies and organizations and in the plenary assemblies.

9. Party members are entitled to express their opinions and submit proposals, including amendments to the documents submitted by the Central Committee, which must be sent by their organization or by their own initiative to the Secretariat or to the Political Committee of the Central Committee.

10. The plenary assemblies may, if they so wish, vote in general on each of the draft documents submitted by the Central Committee.

11. The Central Committee will assess the debate and approve the documents to be presented for discussion and decision by the Congress.

12. Documents approved by the Central Committee shall be submitted to the Congress accompanied by information and a general assessment of the amendments presented during the discussion, including those not accepted by the Central Committee.

III. Election of Delegates

13. The Congress shall consist of Delegates elected directly by the plenary assemblies and automatic delegates.

14. There shall be a proportion of 120 Party members to each delegate elected by the organizations.

15. The number of delegates elected by the regional organisations, in accordance with paragraph 14, should be distributed considering their various organisations and their proportionality.

16. Organizations with less than 120 but more than 60 members may elect one (1) delegate in the respective plenary assembly, provided that the proportion of one (1) delegate per 120 Party members in the respective regional organization as a whole is not exceeded by more than 10%.

17. In organizations with less than 120 members, the immediately higher bodies, in order to ensure that all party members have the right to elect and be elected as delegates to the Congress, may convene plenary assemblies grouping different organizations according to the proportion defined in paragraph

18. Organizations convening plenary assemblies to elect delegates shall propose candidates for delegates. Party members participating in plenary assemblies may propose candidates for delegates. The number of elected delegates shall be complemented by an equal number of alternate delegates who, in order of election, shall become effective delegates at the XXI Congress replacing any effective delegates unable to participate in the Congress. When plenary assemblies elect a single delegate, the number of alternate delegates to be elected shall be two (2).

19. Except where it becomes necessary to join several organisations or to apply paragraph 20 of these rules, delegates shall be elected in the plenary meetings of their organisations. No Party member may vote or be a candidate for delegate (effective or alternate) in more than one plenary assembly.

20. Participants in the plenary assemblies of the respective organizations have the right to elect and be elected as delegates. Party members with direct responsibilities in an organization may also elect and be elected as delegates in the respective plenary assembly.

21. Participants in plenary assemblies invited for delegate election who believe the rules were not applied nor a democratic election ensured, in accordance with these rules, may appeal to a higher body of the respective organization, which will, in time, appreciate the merits of the claim and rectify any irregularities, if they occurred. Party members who do not agree with this decision can still appeal to the Central Control Commission.

IV. Automatic delegates

22. Members of the outgoing Central Committee, members of the Central Control Commission and Party members in the National Leadership of JCP are automatic delegates. Automatic delegates, in number not exceeding 1% of the total delegates to the Congress, may also include other Party members whom the Central Committee, by its own initiative or proposal from organizations, understands should be assigned this quality, considering their party tasks.

V. Calendar

23. Documents approved by the Central Committee for discussion in the Party will be published in Avante!.

24. Plenary assemblies may take place following the publication of the documents.

25. Amendment proposals and corrections to the documents submitted by the Central Committee for discussion must be delivered a soon as possible, and before November 11.

26. Plenary assemblies to elect delegates will be held by 8 November.

VI. First session of the XXI Congress

27. The XXI Congress will culminate the discussion throughout the entire Party.

28. Delegates must present their delegate card and updated Party card upon entering the area reserved for delegates.

29. The Congress will operate with a majority of delegates present.

30. The Congress Bureau shall be responsible for initiating the work of the Congress, and shall include the Secretary-General and members of the Central Committee's executive bodies.

31. The members of the Central Control Commission shall take their seats in the Bureau at the beginning of the Congress.

32. The rules of Congress will then be discussed. The remaining schedule of the Congress will be carried out according to the rules then approved.