In contrast to legal regulations, i.e. constitutional provisions, party law, and electoral law provisions that concern the internal functioning of political parties, regulations may also be voluntarily introduced by political parties themselves in order to ensure internal democratic processes and operations.  As noted elsewhere in this module, it is also of notable and increasing import for parties to incorporate voluntary regulations on minority inclusion and gender balance in party membership, leadership, and candidate selection.[1]

Most political parties have a Party Constitution or similar document adopted by the highest decision-making body in the party. Many also have an internal rule-book or set of regulations (by laws) that are internal to the party and guide decisions and procedures.

These voluntary regulations can concern for example:

• The structure of the party, especially the relative independence of local branches and auxiliary groups
• Decision-making procedures
• Membership
• The election or selection of leaders and candidates
• Mechanisms for conflict resolution within the party
• Ethical rules of behaviour of party members and staff
• Inclusion of women and minorities at all levels