Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania 1977, as amended to 2005
Political Parties
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    (1) The United Republic is a democratic, secular and socialist state which adheres to multi-party democracy.
    (2) All matters pertaining to the registration and administration of political parties in the United Republic shall be governed by the provisions of this Constitution and of a law enacted by Parliament for that purpose. (Art. 3)
Political Parties
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    (1) Every person has a freedom, to freely and peaceably assemble, associate and cooperate with other persons, and for that purpose, express views publicly and to form and join with associations or organizations formed for purposes of preserving or furthering his beliefs or interests or any other interests.
    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticles (1) and (4), it shall not be lawful for any political party to be registered which according to its constitution or policy -
    (a) aims at promoting or furthering the interests of -
    (i) any faith or religious group;
    (ii) any tribal group, place of origin, race or gender;
    (iii) only a particular area within any part of the United Republic;
    (b) advocates for the break-up of the United Republic;
    (c) accepts or advocates for the use of the force or violent confrontation as means of attaining its political goals;
    (d) advocates or intends to carry on its political activities in only one part of the United Republic; or
    (e) does not permit periodic and democratic election of its leaders.
    (3) Parliament may enact legislation which makes provisions for ensuring that political parties operate within the limits and adhere to the conditions set out in subarticle (2) concerning the freedom and the right of persons to associate and assemble.
    (4) It shall be unlawful for any person to be compelled to join any association or organization, or for any association or for any political party to be refused registration on grounds solely of the ideology or philosophy of that political party. (Art. 20)
Political Parties
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    (1) For the purposes of the election of women Members of Parliament mentioned in Article 66(1) (b), political parties which took part in the general election in accordance with the procedure laid down and obtained at least five percentum of the total valid voters for Parliamentary election, shall propose to the Electoral Commission the names of women on the basis of the proportion of votes obtained by each party in the Parliamentary election.
    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticle (1), the following votes shall be counted as valid votes for the unopposed Member of Parliament in the constituent –
    (a) where a political party has nominated a Presidential candidate, presidential votes cast in the constituency for a Presidential candidate from that political party; or
    (b) where a political party has not nominated a presidential candidate, fifty one percentum of the votes of the total voters registered in the respective constituency.
    (3) The names of the persons proposed to the Electoral Commission in accordance with subarticle (1) shall be declared to be the results of the election after the Commission is satisfied that the relevant provisions of the Constitution and of other legislation have been complied with.
    (4) The list of names for women candidates submitted to the Electoral Commission by each political party for general election shall be the list to be applied by the Electoral Commission after consultation of the party concerned, for purpose of filling any vacancy of Members of Parliament of this category whenever the vacancy occurs during the life of Parliament. (Art. 78)
Political Parties
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    Subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, the Electoral Commission may make provisions specifying the procedure to be followed by the political parties for the purposes of electing and proposing the names of the kind of Members of Parliament provided for under Article 66(1)(b). (Art. 81)
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Part III on Basic Rights and Duties.
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Part III on Basic Rights and Duties.
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Part III on Basic Rights and Duties.