Constitution - Charles II Society

Constitution of the La Trobe University Charles II Society

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1.0 Name:
The official name of this organisation is the Charles the Second Society (henceforth refered to as 'the Society').

2.0 Objectives:
The objective of the Society and its membership is to affirm and further the following principles:
2.1 Support for moral values.
2.2 Responsibility for the consequences of one's actions and beliefs.
2.3 Opposition to totalitarian ideologies.
2.4 Support for those institutions which are an organic outgrowth or component of society and which therefore provide continuity and meaning to human existence.

3.0 Membership
3.1 Membership is open to all students and staff members of La Trobe University who agree to uphold the principles elucidated in 2.1-2.4.
3.2 Associate membership is allowed among those who are not La Trobe students or staff, unless proscribed by other regulations to which the society is subject.
3.3 Honourary lifetime membership may be extended to a member of the Society by a unanimous vote of all members of the Council followed by a majority vote of members at a general meeting.
3.4 Membership may be suspended or withdrawn by a two-thirds majority at a General Meeting, subject to other regulations by which the society is bound.
3.5 The Council may determine and modify membership fees and conditions provided that all prospective members are treated equally (with the exception of the distinctions between student members, staff members and associate members).

4.0 Council
The Society Council shall comprise of a Regent, Steward and Chancellor, and such other Councillors as the membership considers necessary.
4.1 The Regent holds the chair and other "Sovereign Duties" in trust.
4.1.1 The "Sovereign Duties" are to be passed to members of Royal or Noble Houses, if present.
4.1.2 Where more than one member of a Royal or Noble House is present, tables of precedency are to be observed, with members of the House of Windsor or Noble Orders conferred within the British Commonwealth taking precedence over equivalent figures.
4.1.3 In the case where such title has been purchased by the title holder, the title counts only in the absence of non-venal titles.
4.1.4 Where multiple claimants of equal status are present, the matter shall be resolved by common agreement, duelling being illegal in Australia.
4.1.5 Royals or nobles present may, at their sole discretion, decide to re-delegate the "Sovereign Duties" to the Regent.
4.1.6 Members of Royal or Noble Houses present at meetings shall be afforded an opportunity to address the meeting, ask questions of Council members and suggest future policy.
4.1.7 Where members of Royal Houses are present, a Chamberlain shall be elected from members present to attend to drinks, snacks, and the like.

4.2 The Sovereign Duties are as follows.
4.2.1 Chairing meetings.
4.2.2 Providing leadership and direction for the Society.
4.2.3 Preparing the Grand Annual Report with the assistance of other Council Members.
4.2.4 Exercising Reserve Powers where necessary, as explained in 7.1.1.

4.3 The Steward
4.3.1 The Steward shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate record of membership of the Society, taking minutes at meetings, issuing notice for meetings, maintaining and distributing the constitution and handling correspondence.
4.3.2 The Steward will endeavour to ensure, to the best of his abilities, that statements issued in the Society's name are written in proper English, as set out in the Oxford English Dictionary, eschewing 'American English' and political compromises to the language.

4.4 The Chancellor
4.4.1 The Chancellor shall be responsible for recording all transactions of the Society and keeping the accounts in order. The Chancellor will prepare the Annual Financial Statement.

4.5 Vice Regent
The Society may elect a Vice Regent if such is deemed necessary or desirable.
4.5.1 If the Society elects a Vice Regent, the Vice Regent shall be responsible for assisting the Regent in his duties and assuming the Sovereign Duties when the Regent is absent (subject to 4.1.1).

4.6 Other Council members may be elected as the Council or General Meetings deem fit.

4.7 Envoys
4.7.1 Where the Society is required to send a delegate to represent it to another body, the Society shall select a member of the Council to be the Envoy.
4.7.2 The Envoy must hold some other position of actual responsibility on the Council. (The intent of this rule is to prevent external political interests infiltrating the Society, and obtaining the Envoyship for the purpose of exercising a vote on the Society's behalf without genuinely belonging to the Society).
4.7.3 Where a delegate is required but the Society has not selected an Envoy, the Regent shall be considered the Society's Envoy.
4.8 Nominations to the Society's Council are open to all members.
4.9 Vacancies in the Council may be filled by a majority decision of a quorate Council meeting.

4.11 Powers
The Council generally is to have power to make decisions and take actions necessary to the furtherance of the object of the Society - subject to the provisions of this Constitution and any other regulations by which the Society is bound.
4.12 When acting in the capacity of Council members of the Society, members must act in the interests of the Society and its membership, and not in their own interests or those of any other entity.
4.12.1 A Member of Council may be deprived of his position on the Council on the basis of 4.12 by a two-thirds majority vote at a Special Grand Assembly convened for that purpose.

5.0 Meetings
5.1 Quorum for a general meeting of the Society shall be five members, or 5% of total membership, whichever is higher.
5.2 Decisions at the Society meetings shall be made by simple majority except where otherwise specified in this constitution or required by other regulations to which the Society is subject.

5.3 General Meetings
General Meetings are meetings intended for all members.
5.3.1 Notice of all General Meetings is to be given to members at least one week prior to such meetings.

5.4 Grand Assemblies
A Grand Assembly is a particular type of General Meeting.
5.4.1 The Grand Annual Assembly is to be held in the first five months of each year unless otherwise required by regulations by which the Society is bound.
5.4.2 At the Grand Annual Assembly, nominations will be opened for all Council positions and a new Council elected, after the presentation of the Grand Annual Report and Annual Financial Statement.
5.4.3 Any position for which there are no nominations shall either be abolished (only where the position is not mandated by this Constitution) or retained by the member who previously held the position, at the discretion of the Assembly.
5.4.4 An Extraordinary Grand Assembly may be called by any two members of the Executive, or by requisition by at least ten Society members setting out the purpose for which the meeting is to be called.
5.4.4.1 No matter may be determined, discussed or voted upon by an Extraordinary Grand Assembly except that outlined in the requisition described in clause 5.4.4.
5.4.4 The quorum for a Grand Assembly is to consist of at least seven members, or 10% of membership (whichever is higher).
5.4.5 Notice of all Grand Assemblies is to be given to all members at least seven academic days prior to the date of said Assembly.

5.5 Council Meetings
A Council Meeting is a meeting which has been called for the express purpose of conference amongst Council Members.
5.5.1 Council Meetings are to be open to all members of the Society, but not non-members.
5.5.2 In exceptional circumstances, the Council may overrule 5.5.1, declaring part of all of a Council meeting in camera. This is determined by a majority vote.
5.5.3 All Council Members are entitled to a vote at Council Meetings. General Members may be invited to cast a vote at Council's discretion.
5.5.4 The quorum for Council meetings shall be four Society Members, at least two of which must be Council Members.

5.6 The Chairman of any meeting shall have both a deliberative and a casting vote.

6.0 Financial and Legal
6.1 All debits from the bank account must be signed by two signatories.
6.2 Signatories on the account will include the Regent and the Chancellor, and any other executive member as determined by the Council.
6.3 The Financial year of the Society shall commence on the first of January.
6.4 Every member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Society, in the event of the same being wound up during the time at which he is a member, should such assets be insufficient to meet any liabilities existing at the said time.

7.0 Interpretation and Amendment
7.1 In the event of a dispute arising over the interpretation of these rules, or a dispute arising which is not forseen by these rules, the dispute shall be resolved by majority decision of the executive, or failing such resolution by a general meeting, unless otherwise required by regulations by which the Society is bound.
7.1.1 In the case of a deadlock on a question under 7.1, the Regent (or other wielder of the Society's Sovereign Duties, if present) may exercise Reserve Powers to break the deadlock.
7.2 This Constitution may be amended by three fifths majority at a general meeting. Notice of the motion must be given at least seven academic days before the meeting.

8.0 Affiliation and Disaffiliation
8.1 the Society may agree to affiliate to another body by a majority decision at either a Council meeting or a general meeting.
8.2 the Society agrees to be bound by the regulations of any affiliated body, and will abide by any decision of such affiliated bodies which effect the Society.
8.3 the Society may determine to disaffiliate with any affiliated body by a majority decision at either a Council meeting or a general meeting.
8.4 At the point of disaffiliation, any funds which have been transferred by the Society to the disaffiliated body and not yet used, or any assets purchased by the disaffiliated body using the Society funds shall be returned to the Society forthwith. In the case of assets purchased in part using the Society funds, an amount of funds equivalent to the Society's contribution shall be transferred to the Society forthwith.
8.5 At the point of disaffiliation, any funds which have been transferred to the Society by the disaffiliated body and not yet used, or any assets purchased by the Society using the disaffiliated body's funds, shall be returned to the disaffiliated body forthwith. In the case of assets purchased in part using the disaffiliated body's funds, an amount of funds equivalent to said body's contribution shall be returned forthwith by the Society.
8.6 the Society recognises the right of affiliated bodies to terminate affiliation at any time and recover assets.

9.0 General
9.1 This Constitution shall be available to all members of the Society and all affiliated bodies (this is a responsibility of the Steward, as described in clause 4.3.1).

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