Proposed Constitution of the Bristol South Green Party.

Revised (8): September 21, 2006. Recent amendments are in bold typeface.

1. Name: The name of the organisation shall be ‘Bristol South Green Party’ abbreviated BSGP. It may also be known as the Green Party, Bristol South (GP-BS).

2. Objectives: To promote the aims of the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW), including:

a. To develop and implement ecological policies consistent with the philosophical basis of the Party as expressed in the Manifesto for a Sustainable Society.

b. To that end to win seats at all levels of Government

c. To organise non-violent activity which may publicise and further the first two objectives.

3. Membership

a. Members of the GPEW living in the area of the Bristol South Parliamentary Constituency shall be entitled to membership of BSGP.

b. Other members of the GPEW may be accepted by resolution of a meeting of BSGP, subject to the agreement of their local party if any.

c. A member whose membership subscription is in arrears by more than five weeks may not vote at General Meetings.

d. No member (including appointed officers and election candidates) may purport to represent GP or BSGP policies without due authority.

4. Officers. Three officers shall be appointed from the membership of BSGP: a Co-ordinator (CO), a Treasurer, and an Election Agent. Such other officers as may be deemed necessary may be appointed. A member may hold more than one office, but the same member must not be both CO and Treasurer. Officers shall serve from the end of the meeting in which they are elected until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. The CO is responsible, inter alia, for the convening of meetings and the promulgation of minutes, and for the role described elsewhere as the Contact.

5. Communications. Three key documents, this Constitution, Notices convening General Meetings, and Minutes of General Meetings, shall be conveyed to all members by means that ensure that members are informed. Options for achieving this aim shall be detailed in Standing Orders.

6. Meetings. There shall be two types of formal meeting: General Meetings and Business Meetings. General Meetings called for the election of officers or candidates may be called Election Meetings or Hustings.

6.1. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held each year in September to November.

6.2.The business of the AGM shall include:

a. Co-ordinator’s Report

b. Treasurer’s Report, including a financial report;

c. Report of an independent examiner of the accounts.

d. Appointment of an independent examiner of the accounts.

e. Election of Co-ordinator, Treasurer, and Election Agent.

6.3. An Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be held if called by resolution of a Business Meeting or by 10% of members.

6.4. Business Meetings shall be held at least 8 times per year, normally at the same time and place each month, and shall be open to all members.

6.5. A decision of a Business Meeting may not contradict a decision of a General Meeting.

6.6. Quorum. The Quorum for General Meetings shall be 10 members or 5% of paid-up membership whichever is greater.

The Quorum for Business Meetings shall be 6 members or 5% of paid-up membership whichever is greater.

Only members who are present and entitled to vote shall count towards a quorum.

6.7. No decision of a General Meeting shall be binding unless its nature and purpose were specified in a prior notice to all members.

6.8. The times and places of Business Meetings shall be made known to all members 7 or more days in advance.

6.9. In all meetings the Chair has a casting vote.

6.10. Voting by proxy shall be available at General Meetings.

6.11. Before being considered a motion must be proposed and seconded.

6.12. Minutes of Business and General Meetings shall be made and retained for at least five years. Minutes and Annual Reports shall be available to all members.

7. Standing Orders.

a. A set of Standing Orders (SOs) shall be made.

b. No SO may contradict this Constitution.

c. SOs may be suspended for the remainder of the then current item of business by resolution of two thirds of a meeting.

d. Until completion of the 2007 AGM SOs may be amended by resolution of a Business Meeting. Thereafter SOs may be amended only by resolution of a General Meeting.

8. Internal Elections

8.1. Officers other than the CO, the Treasurer, the Election Agent, and Prospective Public Election Candidates shall be elected by simple majority at a Business or General Meeting.

8.2. Prospective Public Election Candidates shall be elected at General Meetings.

8.3. If the post of CO, Treasurer, or Election Agent falls vacant a replacement shall be elected as soon as possible at a Business or General Meeting.

8.4. The CO, the Treasurer, the Election Agent, and Prospective Public Election Candidates shall be elected by Single Transferable Vote.

8.5. The option "Re-open Nominations" (RON) shall be available at all elections.

8.6. Standing Orders shall define processes for holding internal elections and for suspending, dismissing and replacing officers.

9. Members elected to public office.

9.1. Members elected to public office must report back regularly, and must pay due regard to the policy and advice agreed by general and Business Meetings.

9.2. A resolution to recall a member elected to public office shall require a two-thirds majority of a General Meeting.

10. Splitting and Merging. A resolution to split the BSGP or to merge with another GP shall require a two thirds majority at a General Meeting.

11. Winding Up. A resolution to wind up Bristol South GP shall require a two thirds majority at a General Meeting. The quorum for a resolution to wind up is three voting members. Special efforts must be made to inform all members of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. If wound up all records and assets shall be transferred as specified by the Green Party of England and Wales.

12. Constitution

12.1. This Constitution may be amended only by resolution of two thirds at a General Meeting.

12.2. All members must have been informed at least one week in advance of the words and phrases to be deleted, amended, or added.

12.3. A copy of this Constitution is to be provided to all members after any substantial amendment and in any case every five years. (END)

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