Constitution of Newcastle-Under-Lyme Constituency
& Keele University Conservative Future
Article 1 - Name and Nature of the Society
i. The Society shall be known as “Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele University Conservative Future” (known henceforth in this document as ‘The Society). The Society will be affiliated to Keele University Students Union (KUSU), the Conservative and Unionist Party and Conservative Future, and will adhere to the rules laid down by their Constitutions with regards to University Societies. Should the following document prove to be ambiguous regarding any matter, these Constitutions shall take precedence.
Article 2 – Membership
i. A belief in the Conservative Party policies and values are required to obtain membership of The Society.
ii. Membership for The Society requires payment of a subscription fee, which is determined by Conservative Party Central Office, and not The Society Executive Committee.
iii. Payment of the subscription entitles the applicant to membership of both The Society and the national Conservative Party.
iv. Each member shall receive one vote on all issues brought before The Society.
v. Every member has the right to bring to the attention of the Executive Committee any issue they deem necessary for discussion.
vi. Every member has the ability to move a motion for consideration at any general meeting of The Society.
vii. Each member has the right to participate in any social activity of The Society.
viii. Each member has voting rights for the national Conservative Party, in line with the rules and regulations of membership.
ix. Membership of Keele University Students Union is not a prerequisite for membership of The Society, though non-Keele University Students Union members must agree to abide by its rules insofar as they relate to The Society.
Article 3 – Society Aims and Objectives
i. The main purpose of The Society is to facilitate and encourage the participation, interest and understanding of Conservative Party politics.
ii. The Society shall aim to encourage wider participation in democracy, by encouraging all voters to exercise their democratic rights.
iii. The Society will meet on a regular basis, once a week, unless there are prior agreements from previous weekly meetings.
iv. The Society aims to arrange ‘open house’ debates with other Keele University Students Union based societies and other political parties and organisations.
v. The Society (and its members) will support Conservative Party candidates in elections, both local and national. This support will come in the form of financial support, canvassing support, leafleting, and any other support requested of The Society, that it feels the ability to meet. Participation in active support will be at the discretion of members.
vi. The Society will act as a support for members to be proud of their political beliefs.
Article 4 – Limits of The Society
i. Members must abide by rules and regulations of the Conservative Party.
ii. Members must not become members of other political parties, without formally leaving The Society.
iii. Any member found to be in breach of ‘Article 4 i or ii’ may be expelled from the party on a majority vote of the Executive Committee (more than 50% of the full Executive Committee) and have all membership rights removed, without refund of subscription fee.
Article 5 – The Executive Committee
i. An Executive Committee, who can make decisions on behalf of members, shall administer The Society.
ii. The Executive Committee will usually be elected at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the Officers will hold their positions until the next AGM unless a motion is passed, in accordance with ‘Article 6 viii’, to remove an Executive Officer from their position. The Executive Committee can however arrange to have some positions elected outside of an AGM, in accordance with AGM rules, for reasons of membership inclusion and increased involvement in The Society.
iii. The Executive Committee shall comprise of:
a. Chairman, whose responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
1. To act as a named representative of the party, in any official business.
2. To resolve any disputes between members of The Society, with regard to The Society.
3. To ensure an active and effective committee, and appropriately delegate tasks to executive members.
4. Liaising with the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Conservative Association, the national Conservative Party, Conservative Future, Keele University and any other bodies to which NKCF has affiliation.
5. Chairing all meetings of The Society.
6. To resolve any tied votes of the Executive Committee or the membership, with a casting vote (in addition to a vote as a normal member).
7. To resolve any disputes between members of The Society, with regard to other members of The Society.
b. Deputy Chairman Membership, responsible
1. Assisting the Chairman in all matters
2. Acting as Chairman in their absence.
3. The promotion, encouragement and retention of membership.
4. Maintaining and update the NKCF website for the benefit of the membership.
5. Assist the Treasurer in the organisation of fundraising events.
6. Organising and overseeing of all elections, whether natural or resulting in resignations or no-confidence votes.
7. To assist the Chairman in resolving any disputes between members of The Society, with regard to other members of The Society.
c. Deputy Chairman Political, responsible for:
1. Assisting the Chairman in all matters
2. The organisation of political campaigns.
3. Promoting the activities of the party, both social and political.
4. Organising debates, talks, discussions and other political meetings within and outside of the University.
5. Assist the Treasurer in the organisation of fundraising events.
d. Treasurer, responsible for:
1. The financial dealings of The Society
2. Withdrawal of funds, with prior approval of the Chairman.
3. Liaise with Keele University Students Union financial representatives.
4. Deal with society bank accounts and monitor expenditure and income.
5. Collect revenues from members, and ensure payment of membership fees.
6. Ensuring membership details are passed on to central office.
7. Organise regular fundraising events for The Society.
e. Secretary, responsible for:
1. Making and distributing minutes of all meetings.
2. Informing members of The Society’s activities.
3. Liaise with Chairman to produce and distribute an agenda for meetings.
4. To ensure The Society has regular press releases to both the KUSU Newspaper, and local media.
5. Ensure all members contact details are held by The Society.
6. Writing and publishing agenda for all meetings of The Society.
iv. The Chairman may use a casting vote or delay an issue in tied votes, at their discretion.
v. The Chairman may adopt any of the roles listed in ‘Article 5iiii’
vi. Notice should be given in advance for the absence of any Executive Committee members, from meetings, with the exception of emergencies or unpredictable events.
vii. All five members of the Executive Committee may enter into debate during Executive Committee meetings, and all may vote.
viii. Any individual member may bring about a motion of no confidence in an Executive Officer. Such a petition must be presented to the members of the Executive Committee, including the officer in question, and must be signed by no less than 10% of the membership of The Society. Following receipt of the petition, the Executive Committee shall publicise the fact to the membership. At the following meeting, the motion will be voted upon, and is passed if voted for by simple majority of those present and voting, i.e. proxy votes will not be accepted. If the majority is reached, the subject of the no confidence motion shall be deemed to have resigned with immediate effect. No more than two votes of no confidence may be called against an officer in one calendar year.
ix. Any member of the Executive Committee who has resigned or been deemed to have resigned under viii. above shall be eligible for re-appointment.
x. The Executive Committee has the right to appoint a Social Secretary, with responsibility for organising non-political events of The Society, should they deem this necessary.
Article 6 – The Annual General Meeting and Elections
i. NKCF must hold an Annual General Meeting every year in either the month of May or June. The purpose of the AGM is to review the workings of NKCF in the past year and to elect new Executive Committee Officers.
ii. The position of Chairman must be elected at the AGM. The positions of Deputy Chairman Membership, Deputy Chairman Political, Secretary and Treasurer may be elected outside of an AGM if deemed beneficial to The Society with the agreement of the majority of the Executive Committee.
iii. Members need a simple majority to be elected to the Executive Committee, and those elected to these positions take office as soon as the AGM has been closed.
iv. Members are limited to holding the same position no more than twice whether consecutive or non-consecutive.
v. Members are only allowed to nominate themselves for one position at a time
vi. The Executive Committee will appoint one of its members (to be known as the Executive Officer) to devise and make known a framework for the AGM and an election timetable while considering the following:
a. The Executive Officer must declare nominations open for the relevant Executive Committee Positions at least fourteen days before the AGM date, allowing nominations to remain open for at least seven days. There must also be a gap of at least three days between the close of nominations and the date of the AGM.
b. During this gap of at least three days the Executive Officer must make available the chance for members to vote by proxy if they are unable to attend the meeting.
c. It is the joint responsibility of the Chairman and the Secretary to promote the AGM and the elections.
d. If the person occupying the position of Executive Officer wishes to nominate themselves for another Executive Committee position or to stand for re-election; as per the rules in section v of this article, then proxy votes for that said position must be received by the Secretary. If the Secretary is also standing for the position or if this is unsuitable then proxy votes must be received by another member of the Executive Committee who is not standing for that particular position.
vii. The rules regarding elections in section vi parts a, b, c and d of this article must also be adhered to for the election of officers outside of the AGM or if a position becomes vacant during the course of the year.
Article 7 – Constitutional Amendments
i. This document may be amended, by the following process:
1. Submission of proposals by any member, supported by a seconder, to a general meeting of the members.
2. The amendment(s) will then be published to all members, and a date set for a full vote on the proposals. That date being no less than 10 days from the date of publication.
3. At that meeting, a vote of 2/3 of total membership present and sending proxy votes, in favour is needed to approve the changes. Any less than 2/3 vote causes the motion to fail.
-END-
Published and promoted by Clarissa Hemmingsen, for and on behalf of Newcastle Conservatives, all of Newcastle Conservatives, Hawthorne House, Merrial Street, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 2AW