membership of the cadre party kps / ml was low, never exceeding 80 members. the party was organized into cells. for years, the politburo consisted of two non-academics. sympathizers were recorded in mass organizations (for women, students, third world solidarity, etc.). many of these came from the swiss or '68 student movement from the early 1970s. both the members of the cadre party and sympathizers were expected to make a large time commitment (newspaper sales before factory gates, ideological training) as well as meeting the financial expenses involved in party work.