the National Council
for Civil Liberties

CONSTITUTION AND RULES
posted by <Dave@XEMU.demon.co.uk>
.

1.0 Name ---- 2.0 OBJECTS ---- 3.0 Membership ---- 4.0 Affiliated Organisations
5.0 Annual General Meeting ---- 6.0 Special General Meeting
7.0 Executive Committee ---- 8.0 Officers of the Council ---- 9.0 Auditor
10.0 Subscription+Affiliation fees ---- 11.0 Voting Rights
12.0 Conference+Elections Committee ---- 13.0 Rules ---- 14.0 Local Groups
15.0 Termination of Membership(etc). ---- 16.0 Amendment of the Constitution.

___N. C. C. L.
1.0 NAME
The organisation shall be called the National Council for Civil Liberties,
hereinafter referred to as The Council.

___N. C. C. L.
2.0 OBJECTS
2.1The Council shall advances measures, and take such steps as it shall deem necessary,
for the defence and extension of civil liberties in the United Kingdon,
and of the rights and freedoms recognised by international law. In particular,
the Council shall strive to ensure and safeguard the right:--

(a) to live in freedom, and safe from personal harm; and
(b) to protection from ill treatment, or from punishment that is inhuman or degrading; and
(c) to equality before the law, and to freeedom from discrimination on such grounds as disbaility, political or other opinion, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or marital staus; and
(d) to protection from arbitrary arrest and unnecessary detention,
to a fair, sppedy and public trial,
to be presumed innocent until proved guilty,
and to legal advice an representation; and
(e) to a fair hearing before any authority exercising power over the individual; and
(f) to freeedom of thought, conscience, and belief; and
(g) to freedom of speech and publication; and
(h) to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; and
(i) to move freely within one's country of residence, and to leave and eneter it without hindrance; and
(j) to privacy, and to have access to official information.

2.2 The Council shall be non-party and non-sectarian.

___N. C. C. L.
3.0 MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Membership of the Council shall be open to all persons:--

(a) who accept its Constitution; and
(b) who are not members of any organisation whose objectives are incompatible with those of the Council; and
(c) whose membership is approved by the Ecxecutive Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
4.0 AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS
4.1 Affiliation to the Council shall be open to all organisations:--

(a) who accept its Constitution; and
(b) who are not associated with any organisation whose objectives are incompatible with those of the Council; and
(c) whose affiliation is approved by the Executive Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
5.0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
5.1 The power to make and change policy shall be vested in the Annual General Meeting.
5.2 The Annual General Meeting of the Council shall be held during April.
5.3 Attendance at the AGM shall be open to all members, and to all representatives of groups and of affiliated organisations. Delegations shall not exceed the number of votes defined in paragraph 11.
5.4 The Conference and Elections Committee shall give notice of the Annual General Meeting to members, groups and affilaied organisations at least four months before the intended date.
5.5

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall make standing orders governing the conduct of the Annual General Meeting. The making and amending of such standing orders shall be by resolution of an Annual General Meeting;
(b) In order to have effect, such resolution shall have the support of at least two thirds of those present and voting;
(c) Such motions or amendments shall be put to the Annual General Meeting before any other motions, and shall have immediate effect;
(d) The Annual General Meeting shall have before it the comments and reccomendations of the Conference and Elections Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
6.0 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
6.1 A Special General Meeting shall be convened by the Conference and Elections Committee, either at the request of the Executive Committee or on the written request, sent the the Conference and Elections Committee, of not less than fifty mebers of the Council, and/or affiliated organisations and/or local groups having an equivalent voting strength. A Special General Meeting shall only be convened to consider matters which fall within the Objects of the Council.
6.2 Any such request shall state the object of the meeting, and shall be signed by those making it. It may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more persons.
6.3 Not less than 28 clear days' notice of any Special General Meeting shall be given, and arrangements shall be in the hands of the Conference and Elections Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
7.0 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 The Executive Committee shall have control of the business of the Council, subject to the obligation to report to the Annual General Meeting. It shall have control and be answerable for receipt and expenditure of the Council's funds and shall have the power to raise funds, to borrow, and to guarantee the payment of money on such terms as it shall decide. Execution for such financial matters may be delegated to a sub-committe of the Executive Committee.
7.2The Executive Commitee shall meet at least five times each year, and twelve voting members shall constitute a quorum.
7.3Elected members shall assume office immediately after the Annual General Meeting.
7.4Members of the Executive Commitee must be members of the Council. The Executive shall consist of:

(a) Eighteen members elcted by members and affiliated organisations by postal ballot and single transferable vote to serve for two years, one half of them retiring each year; and
(b) Up to six representatives of NCCL groups, exceppt that there shall be no more that one representative for every three groups established in accordance with paragraph 14. The election of groups' representatives shall take place at the Annual Meeting of groups, by secret ballot, with each group able to vote for any number of candidates up to the number of places to be filled; and
(c) One representative of the paid Staff; and
(d) The Treasurer; and
(e) The General Secretary, ex-officio and without the right to vote; and
(f) A Trustee of the Civil Liberties Trust nominated by the other trustees.

7.5 If any vacancies arise among members referred in either clause 7.4(a)or(b), the Executive Committee may co-opt the unsucessful member or members who were most nearly successful in securing election, in the section of the Executive Committee--either 7.4(a) or 7.4(b)-- in which the vacancy arose, at the immediately preceding election. Any person co-opted by the Executive Committee in this way shall hold office until the next Annual Gneral Meeting.
7.6 No person shall be elected to the Executive Committee under clauses 7.4(a) or 7.4(b) unless they have been an individual member of the Councilfor at least 12 months prior to accepting nomination. His or her membership of the Executive Committee shall cease if and when his or her membership of the council ceases.
7.7 Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to attend three successive meetings of the Committee shall be deemed to have tendered his or her resignation. The Executive Commitee shall then decide at its next meeting whether to accept that resignation.

___N. C. C. L.
8.0 OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL
8.1The Chair shall be elected annually by the Executive Committee from their own number.
8.2Not more than two Vice Chairs shall be elected annually by the Executive Committee from their own number,
8.3The Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Executive Committee at the first meeting following the Annual General Meeting. A vacancy shall not be created if the person is already elected under clauuses 7.4(a) or (b).

___N. C. C. L.
9.0 AUDITOR
9.1 An auditor shall be appointed annually by the Annual General Meeting.

___N. C. C. L.
10.0 SUBSCRIPTION + AFFILIATION FEES
10.1 Subscription and affiliation fees shall be decided by the Annual General Meeting.
10.2 Organisations without individual paying membership shall pay a fee based on a notional membership figure determined by the Executive Commitee.
10.3

(a) Any member or affiliate whose subscription or affiliation fee is three months in arrears shall cease to be a member subject only to the discretion of the Executive Committee, in extenuating circumstances, to extend the time by which payment is due.
(b) Any such person or organisation who pays their arrears within twelve months of the payment first becoming due shall have their membership reinstated.
(c) The Executive Committee may make arrangements for subscriptions to be paid in installments .

___N. C. C. L.
11.0 VOTING RIGHTS
11.1 Voting rights at any General Meeting, and in any ballot, are as follows:--

(a) Each individual member shall have one vote.
(b) Each recognised NCCL group shall have four votes,
except in elections for the Exective Commitee under clause 7.4(a)
(c) Affilliated organisations with indivdual membership
shall have the number of votes as follows:
00001-00250 members ... 1 vote
00251-01000 members ... 2 votes
01001-02500 members ... 3 votes
02501-10000 members ... 4 votes
10001-50000 members ... 5 votes
50001- plus members ... 6 votes.
(d) Organisations without individual paying memberships
shall have the number of votes indicated by the notional membership
determined under clause 10.2 .

___N. C. C. L.
12.0 CONFERENCE+ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
12.1 A Conference and Elections Committee shall be appointed by the Annual General Meeting.
12.2 The Conference and Elections Committee shall be charged with the organisation of the Annual General Meeting, and of other General Meetings of the Council. The Committeeshall further be charged with the organisation and conduct of elections and ballots.
12.3 The Conference and Elections Committee shall be entitled to submit motions on any matter within the scope of its duties.
12.4 The method of appointment shall be as follows:

(a) One member shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting each year and shall serve for three years; and
(b) During his or her second year on the Committee a member shall be Chairperson of the Committee, and in that capacity shall present the report of the Committee to the Annual General Meeting; and
(c) At the end of his or her third year of office a member shall retire, but shall be eligible for re-election; and
(d) The member elected shall have been an individual member of The Council for at least 12 months prior to accepting nomination; and
(e) Members of the Conference and Elections Committee shall serve only so long as they remain members of The Council. Any vacancy in the Conference and Elections Committee, caused otherwise than by the lapse of time, shall be filled by the runner-up in the election to fill the seat which fell vacant at the last Annual General Meeting. In the abscence of a runner-up, the vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the period up to and including the next Annual General Meeting, at which the vacancy shall be filled.

12.5 No person shall serve on both the Executive Committee and the Conference and Elections Committee---a member of the Conference and Elections Committee shall resign when accepting nomination for election to the Executive Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
13.0 RULES
13.1 The Annual General Meeting shall make rules governing the conduct of elections and of postal ballots, and governing the organisation and form and nature of business of the Annual General Meeting.
13.2 The making and amending of such rules shall be by resolution of the Annual General Meeting. In order to have effect, such resolution shall have the support of at least two thirds of the votes of those present and voting. Such reolution shall not in any case have effect until the end of the Annual General Meeting at which it was passed.
13.3 The Annual General Meeting shall have before it the comments of the Conference and Elections Committee.

___N. C. C. L.
14.0 LOCAL GROUPS
14.1 The Executive Committee shall have the authority to recognise NCCL groups, and to lay down the constitution and geographical area and criteria for recognition of such Groups.
14.2 An NCCL group recognised by the Executive Committee shall organise national and local memmers and affilliates in co-ordinated work for The Council in its area, and in doing so shall abide by the policies of The Council in its area and in doing so shall abide by the policies of The Council as determined by the Annual General Meeting and the Executive Committee.
14.3 An NCCL group recognised by the Executive Committee shall be recognised for the purpose of clauses 7.4(b) and 11(b).

___N. C. C. L.
15.0 TERMINATION OF MEMERSHIP (ETC).
15.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to terminate the membership of any individual or the affiliation of any organisation, or to dissolve a group, whose continued membership -- affiliation -- or group status would, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, be contrary to th best interests of the Council.
15.2 Where the Executive Committee proposes to consider acting under Clause 15.1, the General Secretary shall give 28 days' notice in writing to the member [or affiliated organisation, or group] concerned, and that member [or affiliate, or group] shall have a right to appear before the Executive Committee before it makes its decision. The Executive Committee shall regulate its own procedure. The General Secretary shall give notice in writing to the member [or affiliate, or group] concerned of the decision of the Executive Committee, within 14 days of that decision.
15.3 Where a member or affiliate [or group] is aggrieved by the decision of the Executive Committee to terminate their membership or affiliation [or to dissolve the group], there shall be a right of appeal to the Appeals Committee---provided that the member or affiliaite [or group] gives notice in writing to the General Secretary within 28 days of the notification of the decision of the Executive Committee. The Appeals Committee shall not dismiss an appeal unless:

(a) the continued membership or affiliation or group status of the appellant would not, in the opinion of the Appeals Committee, be contrary to the best interests of the Council; or
(b) the appellant consents; or
(c) the appellant fails to prosecute the appeal; or
(d) the membership or affiliation ends otrherwise than under this clause; or
(e) the membership or affiliation ends by default in the payment of a membership or affiliation fee.

The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final.
15.4 Notification of the decision of the Executive Committee shall be proved by a reorded letter.
15.5 The Appeals Committee shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting, and shall hold office from the end of the Annual General Meeting to the end of the following Annual general Meeting. It shall consist of five persons who have been individual members of the Council for at least 12 months at the date of their election, and who are not members of the Executive Committee. The Appeals Committee shall meet as and when required by the Executice Committee to do so, and three members shall constitute a quorum. The Appeals Committee shall regulate its own procedure.
15.6 A termination of membership [or affiliation, or group status] under this paragraph shall not take effect until the expiry of the period of 28 days specified by clause 15.2, and shall not take effect while an Appeal to the Appeals Committee is pending.
15.7 A membership or affliation fee which becomes due while the membership or affliation is preserved by clause 15.6 shall be due in the first instance at one quarter of the ordinary figure. If, immediately after the cessation of such preservation, the person or organisation is---subject to the payment of the fee specified below in this paragraph---a member or affilaiate, the payment of the the other three quarters of the ordinary figure shall become due fourteen days after the notice to the said person or organisation of the cessation of the said preservation. [The foregoing passage is one of the most contorted pieces of bureacratese I have ever suffered and, if you torture your brain to extract the sense, you will see it is also incorrect: for ''below'', read ''above''].

___N. C. C. L.
16.0 AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
16.1 Proposals for the amendment of the Constitution shall first be submitted to an Annual General Meeting. If they are adopted by a two thirds majority at such Annual General Meeting, they shall then be subject to a postal ballot conducted in accordance with the relevant sections of the Constitution: such propsals shall become operative if they are confirmed by a majority of those voting in the ballot. If proposals for the amendment of the Constitution, when submitted to an Annual General Meeting, receive support from less than a two thirds majority, then they shall fail.

the National Councilfor Civil Liberties

CONSTITUTION AND RULES posted by <Dave@XEMU.demon.co.uk> .

the National Council
for Civil Liberties

CONSTITUTION AND RULES
posted by <Dave@XEMU.demon.co.uk>
.