No association, by whatever name called, shall function as a political party, nor shall any citizen be an independent candidate for election to public office, unless:
- The association or independent candidate and his organization meet the minimum registration requirements laid down by the Elections Commission and registered with it. Registration requirements shall include filing with the Elections Commission a copy of the constitution of the association and guidelines of the independent candidate and his organization, a detailed statement of the names and addresses of the association and its officers or of the independent candidates and the officers of his organization, and fulfillment of the provisions of sub-sections (b), (c), (d) and (e) hereof. Registration by the Elections Commission of any association or independent candidate and his organization shall vest in the entity or candidate and his organization so registered legal personality, with the capacity to own property, real, personal or mixed, to sue and be sued and to hold accounts. A denial of registration or failure by the Elections Commission to register any applicant may be challenged by the applicant in the Supreme Court;
- The membership of the association or the independent candidate’s organization is open to every citizen of Liberia, irrespective of sex, religion or ethnic background, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution;
- The headquarters of the association or independent candidate and his organization is situated:
- In the capital of the Republic where an association is involved or where an independent candidate seeks election to the office of President or Vice President;
- In the headquarters of the county where an independent candidate seeks election as a Senator; and
- In the electoral center in the constituency where the candidate seeks election as a member of the House of Representatives or to any other public office.
- The name, objective, emblem or motto of the association or of the independent candidate and his organization is free from any religious connotations or divisive ethnic implications and that the activities of the association of independent candidate are not limited to a special group or, in the case of an association, limited to a particular geographic area of Liberia;
- The constitution and rules of the political party shall conform to the provisions of this Constitution, provide for the democratic elections of officers and/or governing body at least once every six years, and ensure the election of officers from as many of the regions and ethnic groupings in the country as possible. All amendments to the Constitution or rules of a political party shall be registered with the Elections Commission no later than ten days from the effective dates of such amendments.