The HSWP placed strict requirements on membership in the party. Members had to work actively on the party's behalf and set a moral and political example for nonparty members.

The HSWP opened membership to persons at least eighteen years of age who accepted Marxist-Leninist ideals, participated in one or more ออออof the party's Basic Organizations, and paid their dues. In addition, the Party Rules obliged members to accept the policies, guidelines, and organizational rules of the HSWP. The Party Rules called upon members to be politically active and morally above reproach, command the respect of others for their work, and "live in a socialist fashion." The party enjoined its members to master the fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism, expand their practical and theoretical knowledge of this ideology, and fight against the remnants of bourgeois ideology and morality. Members had to observe the rules of party discipline and execute the decisions of the party and the government. Members also undertook self-criticism to expose their own shortcomings. Finally, they worked to strengthen and expand the party's links with the masses and to propagate the party's ideals and policies.

Party members enjoyed certain rights. They participated in the discussion of theoretical, political, and organizational issues at party meetings and voted on the adoption of resolutions. Members had the right to vote in party elections and to stand as candidates. Members were able to criticize "in a party-like manner" the work of another party member or party organ at meetings, to present a request or recommendation to the Basic Organization, as well as to higher party bodies including the party congress, and to receive a valid response. However, democratic centralism discouraged such criticism. Any party member who questioned the policies of the leadership would be subject to party discipline.

Data as of September 1989